Pulsars, transients and relativistic astrophysics

Abstract:

Wide, highly eccentric (𝑒 >0.9) compact binaries can naturally arise as progenitors of gravitational wave (GW) mergers. These systems are expected to have a significant population in the mHz band (e.g., ∼3–45 detectable stellar-mass binary black holes with 𝑒 >0.9 in the Milky Way), with their GW signals characterized by “repeated bursts” emitted upon each pericenter passage. In this study, we show that the detection of mHz GW signals from highly eccentric stellar mass binaries in the local universe can strongly constrain their orbital parameters. Specifically, it can achieve a relative measurement error of ∼10−6 for orbital frequency and ∼1% for eccentricity (as 1 −𝑒) in most of the detectable cases. On the other hand, the binary’s mass ratio, distance, and intrinsic orbital orientation may be less precisely determined due to degeneracies in the GW waveform. We also perform mock LISA data analysis to evaluate the realistic detectability of highly eccentric compact binaries. Our results show that highly eccentric systems could be efficiently identified when multiple GW sources and stationary Gaussian instrumental noise are present in the detector output. This work highlights the potential of extracting the signal of “bursting” LISA sources to provide valuable insights into their orbital evolution, surrounding environment, and formation channels.

Abstract:

Fast X-ray transients (FXTs) are a new observational class of phenomena with no clear physical origin. This is at least partially a consequence of limited multiwavelength follow-up of this class of transients in real time. Here we present deep optical (g- and i-band) photometry with Keck, and prompt radio observations with the Very Large Array of FXT 210423 obtained at δ t ≈ 14–36 days since the X-ray trigger. We use these multiband observations, combined with publicly available data sets, to constrain the presence and physical properties of on-axis and off-axis relativistic jets such as those that can be launched by neutron star mergers and tidal disruption events, which are among the proposed theoretical scenarios of FXTs. Considering a wide range of possible redshifts z ≤ 3.5, circumstellar medium density n = 10−6–10−1 cm−3, and isotropic-equivalent jet kinetic energy E k,iso = 1048–1055 erg, we find that we can rule out wide jets with opening angle θ j = 15° viewed within 10° off-axis. For more collimated jets (θ j = 3°) we can only rule out on-axis (θ obs = 0°) orientations. This study highlights the constraining power of prompt multiwavelength observations of FXTs discovered in real time by current (e.g., Einstein Probe) and future facilities.

Abstract:

In this work, we study the circumstellar material (CSM) around massive stars, and the mass-loss rates depositing this CSM, using a large sample of radio observations of 325 core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe; only ~22% of them being detected). This sample comprises both archival data and our new observations of 99 CCSNe conducted with the AMI-LA radio array in a systematic approach devised to constrain the mass loss at different stages of stellar evolution. In the supernova (SN)–CSM interaction model, observing the peak of the radio emission of an SN provides the CSM density at a given radius (and therefore the mass-loss rate that deposited this CSM). On the other hand, limits on the radio emission, and/or on the peak of the radio emission provide a region in the CSM phase space that can be ruled out. Our analysis shows a discrepancy between the values of mass-loss rates derived from radio-detected and radio-nondetected SNe. Furthermore, we rule out mass-loss rates in the range of 2 × 10−6–10−4 M⊙ yr−1 for different epochs during the last 1000 yr before the explosion (assuming wind velocity of 10 km s−1) for the progenitors of ~80% of the Type II supernovae (SNe II) in our sample. In addition, we rule out the ranges of mass-loss rates suggested for red supergiants for ~50% of the progenitors of SNe II in our sample. We emphasize here that these results take a step forward in constraining mass loss in winds from a statistical point of view.