arXivDaily arXiv每日学术速递 周一至周五更新
arXiv 2303.03500astro-ph.HE
收藏

AT 2018cow 的哈勃空间望远镜晚期观测。I. 对发现后 50–60 天衰减的瞬时辐射及热性质的进一步约束

Late-time Hubble Space Telescope Observations of AT 2018cow. I. Further Constraints on the Fading Prompt Emission and Thermal Properties 50--60 Days Post-discovery

Yuyang Chen, Maria R. Drout, Anthony L. Piro, Charles D. Kilpatrick, Ryan J. Foley, César Rojas-Bravo, Kirsty Taggart, Matthew R. Siebert, M. R. Magee

AI总结:

本文通过 HST 晚期 SED 与光度曲线分析,约束 AT 2018cow 发现后 50–60 天的热性质,发现第 13 天后衰减加快,并支持中心引擎吸积供能。

摘要:

明亮、快速蓝色光学暂现源 AT 2018cow 的确切性质仍存在争议。在这一两篇论文系列的第一篇中,我们结合发现后约 50–60 天内对 AT 2018cow 的三次哈勃空间望远镜(HST)观测以及前两个月的其他观测,进行了详细分析,并对晚期热性质得出了显著改进的约束。通过对光谱能量分布(SED)建模,我们确认 50–60 天期间的紫外-光学辐射仍为平滑黑体(即光学厚),具有高温($T_{\mathrm{BB}}\sim15000\\,\mathrm{K}$)和小半径($R_{\mathrm{BB}}\lesssim1000\\,R_\odot$)。此外,我们首次报告热光度曲线中存在一个拐折:热光度最初以 $L_{\mathrm{BB}}\propto t^{-2.40}$ 的速率下降,但在第 13 天后以 $t^{-3.06}$ 的速度更快衰减。重新审视可能的晚期能源后,基于所需的 $^{56}$Ni 质量以及 HST SED 中缺乏紫外谱线遮蔽,我们不支持放射性衰变的显著贡献。我们认为,通常提出的与星周物质相互作用的机制,在解释晚期热性质(尤其是光深效应)时可能面临重大挑战。相反,我们发现由中心引擎驱动的持续外流/风仍可合理解释后退光球、光学厚且快速衰减的辐射以及中等宽度谱线的组合。然而,这种快速衰减可能对系统的功率输出和结构具有进一步意义。我们的发现可能支持以下假说:AT 2018cow 及其他“类 Cow 暂现源”主要由中心引擎上的吸积供能。

英文摘要:

The exact nature of the luminous fast blue optical transient AT 2018cow is still debated. In this first of a two-paper series, we present a detailed analysis of three Hubble Space Telescope (HST) observations of AT 2018cow covering $\sim$50--60 days post-discovery in combination with other observations throughout the first two months, and derive significantly improved constraints of the late thermal properties. By modeling the spectral energy distributions (SEDs), we confirm that the UV-optical emission over 50--60 days was still a smooth blackbody (i.e., optically thick) with a high temperature ($T_{\mathrm{BB}}\sim15000\,\mathrm{K}$) and small radius ($R_{\mathrm{BB}}\lesssim1000\,R_\odot$). Additionally, we report for the first time a break in the bolometric light curve: the thermal luminosity initially declined at a rate of $L_{\mathrm{BB}}\propto t^{-2.40}$, but faded much faster at $t^{-3.06}$ after day 13. Reexamining possible late-time power sources, we disfavor significant contributions from radioactive decay based on the required $^{56}$Ni mass and lack of UV line blanketing in the HST SEDs. We argue that the commonly proposed interaction with circumstellar material may face significant challenges in explaining the late thermal properties, particularly the effects of the optical depth. Alternatively, we find that continuous outflow/wind driven by a central engine can still reasonably explain the combination of a receding photosphere, optically thick and rapidly fading emission, and intermediate-width lines. However, the rapid fading may have further implications on the power output and structure of the system. Our findings may support the hypothesis that AT 2018cow and other "Cow-like transients" are powered mainly by accretion onto a central engine.

机构、总结、中文摘要均由AI分析而来,可能存在错误,请以论文正文为准。

↑