On the optical counterparts of radio transients and variables

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Oxford University Press 479:2 (2018) 2481-2504

Authors:

AJ Stewart, T Muñoz-Darias, Robert Fender, M Pietka

Abstract:

We investigate the relation between the radio (Fr) and optical (Fo) flux densities of a variety of classes of radio transients and variables, with the aim of analysing whether this information can be used, in the future, to classify such events. Using flux density values between 1 and 10 GHz and the optical bands V and R, we build a sample with a total of 12 441 Fr and Fo measurements. The sample contains both Galactic objects, such as stellar sources and X-ray binaries, and extragalactic objects, such as gamma-ray bursts and quasars. By directly comparing the two parameters, it is already possible to distinguish between the Galactic and extragalactic populations. Although individual classes are harder to separate from the Fr − Fo parameter space to a high accuracy, and can only provide approximations, the basic approach provides an already useful foundation to develop a more accurate classification technique. In addition, we illustrate how example objects from different classes move in the parameter space as they evolve over time, offering a feature that could be used to reduce the confusion between classes. A small, blind test of the classification performance is also undertaken using a catalogue of VLA FIRST transient and variable sources, to demonstrate the advantages and current limitations of the approach. With more multiwavelength data becoming available in the future, we discuss other classification techniques which the Fr − Fo method could be combined with and potentially become an important part of an automatic radio transient classification system.

A nearby superluminous supernova with a long pre-maximum 'plateau' and strong CII features

(2018)

Authors:

JP Anderson, PJ Pessi, L Dessart, C Inserra, D Hiramatsu, K Taggart, SJ Smartt, G Leloudas, T-W Chen, A Möller, R Roy, S Schulze, D Perley, J Selsing, SJ Prentice, A Gal-Yam, CR Angus, I Arcavi, C Ashall, M Bulla, C Bray, J Burke, E Callis, R Cartier, S-W Chang, K Chambers, P Clark, L Denneau, M Dennefeld, H Flewelling, M Fraser, L Galbany, M Gromadzki, CP Gutiérrez, A Heinze, G Hosseinzadeh, DA Howell, EY Hsiao, E Kankare, Z Kostrzewa-Rutkowska, E Magnier, K Maguire, P Mazzali, O McBrien, C McCully, N Morrell, TB Lowe, CA Onken, F Onori, MM Phillips, A Rest, R Ridden-Harper, AJ Ruiter, DJ Sand, KW Smith, M Smith, B Stalder, MD Stritzinger, M Sullivan, JL Tonry, BE Tucker, S Valenti, R Wainscoat, CZ Waters, C Wolf, D Young

On the optical counterparts of radio transients and variables

(2018)

Authors:

AJ Stewart, T Muñoz-Darias, RP Fender, M Pietka

Signatures of an eruptive phase before the explosion of the peculiar core-collapse SN 2013gc

(2018)

Authors:

Andrea Reguitti, Andrea Pastorello, Giuliano Pignata, Stefano Benetti, Enrico Cappellaro, Massimo Turatto, Claudia Agliozzo, Filomena Bufano, Nidia Morrell, Felipe Olivares E., Dan Reichart, Joshua B Haislip, Vladimir Kouprianov, Stephen J Smartt, Stefano Ciroi

The Fornax Cluster VLT Spectroscopic Survey II – Planetary Nebulae kinematics within 200 kpc of the cluster core

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Oxford University Press (OUP) 477:2 (2018) 1880-1892

Authors:

C Spiniello, NR Napolitano, M Arnaboldi, C Tortora, L Coccato, M Capaccioli, O Gerhard, E Iodice, M Spavone, M Cantiello, R Peletier, M Paolillo, P Schipani