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Black Hole

Lensing of space time around a black hole. At Oxford we study black holes observationally and theoretically on all size and time scales - it is some of our core work.

Credit: ALAIN RIAZUELO, IAP/UPMC/CNRS. CLICK HERE TO VIEW MORE IMAGES.

Dr Shubham Srivastav

Postdoctoral Research Assistant

Research theme

  • Astronomy and astrophysics

Sub department

  • Astrophysics

Research groups

  • Hintze Centre for Astrophysical Surveys
shubham.srivastav@physics.ox.ac.uk
  • About
  • Publications

Massive stars exploding in a He-rich circumstellar medium

Astronomy & Astrophysics EDP Sciences 707 (2026) a157

Authors:

Y-Z Cai, A Pastorello, K Maeda, J-W Zhao, Z-Y Wang, Z-H Peng, A Reguitti, L Tartaglia, AV Filippenko, Y Pan, G Valerin, B Kumar, Z Wang, M Fraser, JP Anderson, S Benetti, S Bose, TG Brink, E Cappellaro, T-W Chen, X-L Chen, N Elias-Rosa, A Esamdin, A Gal-Yam, M González-Bañuelos, M Gromadzki, CP Gutiérrez, C Inserra, A Iskandar, T Kangas, E Kankare, T Kravtsov, H Kuncarayakti, L-P Li, C-X Liu, X-K Liu, P Lundqvist, K Matilainen, S Mattila, S Moran, TE Müller-Bravo, T Nagao, T Petrushevska, G Pignata, I Salmaso, SJ Smartt, J Sollerman, S Srivastav, MD Stritzinger, L-T Wang, S-Y Yan, Y Yang, Y-P Yang, W Zheng, X-Z Zou, L-Y Chen, X-L Du, Q-L Fang, A Fiore, F Ragosta, S Zha, J-J Zhang, X-W Liu, J-M Bai, B Wang, X-F Wang

Abstract:

We present a photometric and spectroscopic analyses of the Type Ibn supernova (SN) 2024acyl. It rises to an absolute magnitude peak of M o = −17.58 ± 0.15 mag in 10.6 days, and displays a rapid linear post-peak light-curve decline in all bands (e.g. γ 0 − 60 ( V ) = 0.097 ± 0.002 mag day −1 ), similar to most SNe Ibn. The optical pseudobolometric light curve peaks at (3.5 ± 0.8)×10 42 erg s −1 , with a total radiated energy of (5.0 ± 0.4)×10 48 erg. The spectra are dominated by a blue continuum at early stages, with narrow P-Cygni He  I lines and flash-ionisation emission lines of C  III , N  III , and He  II . The P-Cygni He  I features gradually evolve and become emission-dominated in late-time spectra. The H α line is detected throughout the entire spectral evolution, which indicates that the circumstellar material (CSM) is helium-rich with some residual amount of hydrogen. Our multi-band light-curve modelling yields estimates of the ejecta mass of M ej = 0.49 +0.11 −0.09 M ⊙ with a kinetic energy of E k = 0.06 +0.01 −0.01 × 10 51 erg, and a 56 Ni mass of M Ni = 0.018 M ⊙ . The inferred CSM properties are characterised by a mass of M CSM = 0.51 +0.05 −0.04 M ⊙ , an inner radius of R 0 =17.8 +3.6 −3.0 AU, and a density of ρ CSM = (8.3 +2.7 −1.2 ) × 10 −12 g cn −3 . The multi-epoch spectra are well reproduced by the CMFGEN/ he4p0 model, corresponding to a He-ZAMS mass of 4 M ⊙ (H-ZAMS mass 18.11 M ⊙ , pre-SN mass 3.16 M ⊙ ). These findings are consistent with a scenario of an SN powered by ejecta-CSM interaction originating from a low-mass helium star that evolved within an interacting binary system where the CSM with some residual hydrogen may originate from the mass-transfer process. We also discuss an extreme scenario involving the possible merger of a helium white dwarf. In addition, a channel of core-collapse explosion of a late-type Wolf-Rayet (WR) star with hydrogen, or a transitional star between an Of and a WR type (e.g. an Ofpe/WN9 star) with fallback accretion cannot be entirely ruled out.
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SN 2024hpj: A perspective on SN 2009ip-like events

Astronomy & Astrophysics EDP Sciences 707 (2026) a80

Authors:

I Salmaso, A Pastorello, E Borsato, S Benetti, MT Botticella, Y-Z Cai, N Elias-Rosa, A Farina, M Fraser, L Galbany, M González-Bañuelos, CP Gutiérrez, M Huang, P Lundqvist, T Kangas, TL Killestein, T Kravtsov, K Matilainen, A Morales-Garoffolo, A Mura, G Pignata, A Reguitti, TM Reynolds, S Smartt, S Srivastav, L Tartaglia, G Valerin, Z-Y Wang

Abstract:

Supernovae (SNe) IIn are terminal explosions of massive stars that are surrounded by a dense circumstellar medium (CSM). Among SNe IIn, a notable subset is the SN 2009ip-like, which exhibits an initial, fainter peak attributed to stellar variability in the late evolutionary stages, followed by a brighter peak, interpreted as the SN explosion itself. In this context, we analysed the spectrophotometric evolution of SN 2024hpj, an object with a triple-peaked light curve and spectra typical of a SN IIn but with a complex line profile composed of broad P-Cygni features topped by narrow emissions. Comparing it with other SN 2009ip-like events in the literature, as well as with other unpublished objects (SNe 2019mry, 2022ytx, 2024uzf, and 2025csc), we identify star-forming regions as their preferred formation environment. On the other hand, the diversity of spectrophotometric features within the sample suggests that variations in CSM mass and distribution may influence the observed characteristics. We identify four sub-classes based on the luminosity and rapidity of the light curve evolution, which provides insights into possible differences in the progenitors, while a statistical analysis of their observed rate indicates progenitor masses around 25 − 31 M ⊙ or lower.
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SN 2022ngb: A faint, slowly evolving Type IIb supernova with a low-mass envelope

Astronomy & Astrophysics EDP Sciences 706 (2026) a271

Authors:

J-W Zhao, S Benetti, Y-Z Cai, A Pastorello, N Elias-Rosa, A Reguitti, G Valerin, Z-Y Wang, E Cappellaro, G-F Feng, A Fiore, B Fitzpatrick, M Fraser, J Isern, E Kankare, T Kravtsov, B Kumar, P Lundqvist, K Matilainen, S Mattila, PA Mazzali, S Moran, P Ochner, Z-H Peng, TM Reynolds, I Salmaso, S Srivastav, MD Stritzinger, S Taubenberger, L Tomasella, J Vinkó, JC Wheeler, S Williams, S-P Pei, Y-J Yang, X-K Liu, X-W Liu, Y-P Yang

Abstract:

Context. Type IIb supernovae (SNe IIb) are stellar explosions whose spectra reveal transitional features between hydrogen-rich (Type II) and helium-rich (Type Ib) SNe. Their progenitors are massive stars that were mostly stripped of their hydrogen envelope, likely through binary interaction and/or strong stellar winds. This makes such stars key tools in studies of the late stages of the evolution of massive stars. Aims. We present an extensive photometric and spectroscopic follow-up campaign of the Type IIb SN 2022ngb. Through the detailed modeling of this dataset, we aim to constrain the key physical parameters of the explosion, infer the nature of the progenitor star and its environment, and probe the dynamical properties of the ejecta. Methods. We analyzed photometric and spectroscopic data of SN 2022ngb. By constructing and modeling the bolometric light curve with semi-analytic models, we were able to estimate the primary explosion parameters. The spectroscopic data were compared with those of well-studied SNe IIb and NLTE models to constrain the properties of the progenitor and the structure of the resulting ejecta. Results. SN 2022ngb is a low-luminosity SN IIb with a peak bolometric luminosity of L Bol = 7.76 +1.15 −1.00 × 10 41 erg s −1 and a V -band rising time of 24.32 ± 0.50 days. The light curve modeling indicates an ejecta mass of ∼2.9 − 3.2 M ⊙ , an explosion energy of ∼1.4 × 10 51 erg, and a low synthesized 56 Ni mass of ∼0.045 M ⊙ . The nebular phase spectra exhibit asymmetric line profiles, pointing to a nonspherical explosion and an anisotropic distribution of radioactive material. Our analysis reveals a relatively compact stripped-envelope progenitor with a pre-SN mass of approximately 4.7 M ⊙ (corresponding to a 15–16 M ⊙ ZAMS star). Conclusions. Our analysis suggests that SN 2022ngb originated from the explosion of a moderate-mass relatively compact, stripped-envelope star in a binary system. The asymmetries inferred from the nebular phase spectral line features indicate the occurrence of a nonspherical explosion.
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A study of two Type IIb supernovae: SNe 2008aq and 2019gaf

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Oxford University Press (OUP) 546:2 (2026) stag093

Authors:

Mridweeka Singh, Devendra K Sahu, Raya Dastidar, Rishabh Singh Teja, Anjasha Gangopadhyay, GC Anupama, D Andrew Howell, K Azalee Bostroem, Curtis McCully, Jamison Burke, Arti Joshi, Daichi Hiramatsu, Hyobin Im, Shubham Srivastav, Kuntal Misra

Abstract:

ABSTRACT We present photometric and spectroscopic studies of two core-collapse supernovae (SNe) 2008aq and 2019gaf in the optical wavelengths. Light curve and spectral sequence of both the SNe are similar to those of other Type IIb SNe. The pre-maximum spectrum of SN 2008aq showed prominent H $\alpha$ lines, the He lines started appearing in the near maximum spectrum. The near maximum spectrum of SN 2019gaf shows shallow H $\alpha$ absorption and He lines with almost similar strength. Both the SNe show transition from hydrogen-dominated spectra to helium-dominated spectra within a month after maximum brightness. The velocity evolution of SN 2008aq matches well with those of other well-studied Type IIb SNe, while SN 2019gaf shows higher velocities. Close to maximum light, the H $\alpha$ and He i line velocities of SN 2019gaf are $\sim$ 2000 and $\sim$ 4000 km s$^{-1}$ higher than other well-studied Type IIb SNe. Semi-analytical modelling indicates SN 2019gaf to be a more energetic explosion with a smaller ejecta mass than SN 2008aq. The zero-age main-sequence (ZAMS) mass of the progenitor estimated using the nebular spectra of SN 2008aq ranges between 13 and 20 M$_\odot$, while for SN 2019gaf, the inferred ZAMS mass is between 13 and 25 M$_\odot$. The [O i] to [Ca ii] lines flux ratio favours a less massive progenitor star in a binary system for both the SNe.
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ATLAS100 data release 1

University of Oxford (2026)

Authors:

Shubham Srivastav, Stephen Smartt

Abstract:

Public data release accompanying the ATLAS100 sample definition paper by Srivastav et al. (2026). The data release includes the cleaned and binned ATLAS light curves of 1729 transients in the sample. Also included is a catalog csv file with additional useful metadata for the transients in the sample, including host galaxy associations, any updated classifications, etc.

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