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Abstract We present multiwavelength observations of the Swift shortγ-ray burst GRB 231117A, localized to an underlying galaxy at redshiftz= 0.257 at a small projected offset (∼2 kpc). We uncover long-lived X-ray Chandra X-ray Observatory and radio/millimeter (VLA, MeerKAT, and ALMA) afterglow emission, detected to ∼37 days and ∼20 days (rest frame), respectively. We measure a wide jet (∼10 $\stackrel{\text{°}}{.}$4) and relatively high circumburst density (∼0.07 cm⁻³) compared to the short GRB population. Our data cannot be easily fit with a standard forward shock model, but they are generally well fit with the incorporation of a refreshed forward shock and a reverse shock at <1 day. We incorporate GRB 231117A into a larger sample of 132 X-ray detected events, 71 of which were radio-observed (17 cm-band detections), for a systematic study of the distributions of redshifts, jet and afterglow properties, galactocentric offsets, and local environments of events with and without detected radio afterglows. Compared to the entire short GRB population, the majority of radio-detected GRBs are at relatively low redshifts (z < 0.6) and have high circumburst densities (>10⁻²cm⁻³), consistent with their smaller (<8 kpc) projected galactocentric offsets. We additionally find that 70% of short GRBs with opening angle measurements were radio-detected, indicating the importance of radio afterglows in jet measurements, especially in the cases of wide (>10°) jets where observational evidence of collimation may only be detectable at radio wavelengths. Owing to improved observing strategies and the emergence of sensitive radio facilities, the number of radio-detected short GRBs has quadrupled in the past decade. 

Recent observations of caustic-crossing galaxies at redshift 0.7 ≲ z ≲ 1 show a wealth of transient events. Most of them are believed to be microlensing events of highly magnified stars. Earlier work predicts such events should be common near the critical curves (CCs) of galaxy clusters (“near region”), but some are found relatively far away from these CCs (“far region”). We consider the possibility that substructure on milliarcsecond scales (few parsecs in the lens plane) is boosting the microlensing signal in the far region. We study the combined magnification from the macrolens, millilenses, and microlenses (“3M lensing”), when the macromodel magnification is relatively low (common in the far region). After considering realistic populations of millilenses and microlenses, we conclude that the enhanced microlensing rate around millilenses is not sufficient to explain the high fraction of observed events in the far region. Instead, we find that the shape of the luminosity function (LF) of the lensed stars combined with the amount of substructure in the lens plane determines the number of microlensing events found near and far from the CC. By measuringβ(the exponent of the adopted power law LF,dN/dL = ϕ(L)∝(1/L)^β), and the number density of microlensing events at each location, one can create a pseudoimage of the underlying distribution of mass on small scales. We identify two regimes: (i) positive-imaging regime whereβ > 2 and the number density of events is greater around substructures, and (ii) negative-imaging regime whereβ < 2 and the number density of microlensing events is reduced around substructures. This technique opens a new window to map the distribution of dark-matter substructure down to ∼10³ M_⊙. We study the particular case of seven microlensing events found in the Flashlights program in the Dragon arc (z = 0.725). A population of supergiant stars having a steep LF withβ = 2.55_−0.56^+0.72fits the distribution of these events in the far and near regions. We also find that the new microlensing events from JWST observations in this arc imply a surface mass density substructure of Σ_∗= 54M_⊙pc⁻², consistent with the expected population of stars from the intracluster medium. We identify a small region of high density of microlensing events, and interpret it as evidence of a possible invisible substructure, for which we derive a mass of ∼1.3 × 10⁸ M_⊙(within its Einstein radius) in the galaxy cluster. 

ABSTRACT We present six epochs of optical spectropolarimetry of the Type IIP supernova (SN) 2021yja ranging from ∼25 to 95 d after the explosion. An unusually high continuum linear polarization of $$p \approx 0.9~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$$ is measured during the early photospheric phase, followed by a steady decrease well before the onset of the nebular phase. This behaviour has not been observed before in Type IIP supernovae (SNe IIP). The observed continuum polarization angle does not change significantly during the photospheric phase. We find a pronounced axis of symmetry in the global ejecta that is shared in common with the Hα and Ca ii near-infrared triplet lines. These observations are consistent with an ellipsoidal geometry. The temporal evolution of the continuum polarization is also compatible with the SN ejecta interacting with aspherical circumstellar matter (CSM), although no spectroscopic features that may be associated with strong interaction can be identified. Alternatively, we consider the source of the high polarization to be an extended hydrogen envelope that is indistinguishable from low-density CSM. 

Abstract We report early-time ultraviolet (UV) and optical spectroscopy of the young, nearby Type II supernova (SN) 2022wsp obtained by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST)/STIS at about 10 and 20 days after the explosion. The SN 2022wsp UV spectra are compared to those of other well-observed Type II/IIP SNe, including the recently studied Type IIP SN 2021yja. Both SNe exhibit rapid cooling and similar evolution during early phases, indicating a common behavior among SNe II. Radiative-transfer modeling of the spectra of SN 2022wsp with theTARDIScode indicates a steep radial density profile in the outer layer of the ejecta, a solar metallicity, and a relatively high total extinction ofE(B−V) = 0.35 mag. The early-time evolution of the photospheric velocity and temperature derived from the modeling agree with the behavior observed from other previously studied cases. The strong suppression of hydrogen Balmer lines in the spectra suggests interaction with a preexisting circumstellar environment could be occurring at early times. In the SN 2022wsp spectra, the absorption component of the MgiiP Cygni profile displays a double-trough feature on day +10 that disappears by day +20. The shape is well reproduced by the model without fine-tuning the parameters, suggesting that the secondary blueward dip is a metal transition that originates in the SN ejecta. 

Abstract The progenitor system(s) as well as the explosion mechanism(s) of thermonuclear (Type Ia) supernovae are long-standing issues in astrophysics. Here we present ejecta masses and other physical parameters for 28 recent Type Ia supernovae inferred from multiband photometric and optical spectroscopic data. Our results confirm that the majority of SNe Ia showobservableejecta masses below the Chandrasekhar-limit (having a meanM_ej≈ 1.1 ± 0.3M_⊙), consistent with the predictions of recent sub-M_Chexplosion models. They are compatible with models assuming either single- or double-degenerate progenitor configurations. We also recover a sub-sample of supernovae within 1.2M_⊙<M_ej< 1.5M_⊙that are consistent with near-Chandrasekhar explosions. Taking into account the uncertainties of the inferred ejecta masses, about half of our SNe are compatible with both explosion models. We compare our results with those in previous studies, and discuss the caveats and concerns regarding the applied methodology. 

Abstract Dark matter subhalos with extended profiles and density cores, and globular star clusters of mass 10⁶–10⁸M_⊙that live near the critical curves in galaxy cluster lenses can potentially be detected through their lensing magnification of stars in background galaxies. In this work, we study the effect such subhalos have on lensed images, and compare to the case of more well-studied microlensing by stars and black holes near critical curves. We find that the cluster density gradient and the extended mass distribution of subhalos are important in determining image properties. Both lead to an asymmetry between the image properties on the positive- and negative-parity sides of the cluster that is more pronounced than in the case of microlensing. For example, on the negative-parity side, subhalos with cores larger than about 50 pc do not generate any images with magnification above ∼100 outside of the immediate vicinity of the cluster critical curve. We discuss these factors using analytical and numerical analysis, and exploit them to identify observable signatures of subhalos: Subhalos create pixel-to-pixel flux variations of ≳0.1 mag on the positive-parity side of clusters. These pixels tend to cluster around (otherwise invisible) subhalos. Unlike in the case of microlensing, signatures of subhalo lensing can be found up to 1″ away from the critical curves of massive clusters. 

Abstract We observed the Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 817 during an intensive multiwavelength reverberation mapping campaign for 16 months. Here, we examine the behavior of narrow UV absorption lines seen in the Hubble Space Telescope/Cosmic Origins Spectrograph spectra, both during the campaign and in other epochs extending over 14 yr. We conclude that, while the narrow absorption outflow system (at −3750 km s⁻¹with FWHM = 177 km s⁻¹) responds to the variations of the UV continuum as modified by the X-ray obscurer, its total column density (logN_H= 19.5 ${}_{-0.13}^{+0.61}$cm⁻²) did not change across all epochs. The adjusted ionization parameter (scaled with respect to the variations in the hydrogen-ionizing continuum flux) is logU_H= −1.0 ${}_{-0.3}^{+0.1}$. The outflow is located at a distance smaller than 38 pc from the central source, which implies a hydrogen density ofn_H> 3000 cm⁻³. The absorption outflow system only covers the continuum emission source and not the broad emission line region, which suggests that its transverse size is small (< 10¹⁶cm), with potential cloud geometries ranging from spherical to elongated along the line of sight. 

ABSTRACT We present multi-epoch spectropolarimetry of Type IIn supernova SN2017hcc, 16–391 d after explosion. Continuum polarization up to 6 per cent is observed during the first epoch, making SN 2017hcc the most intrinsically polarized SN ever reported at visible wavelengths. During the first 29 d, when the polarization is strongest, the continuum polarization exhibits wavelength dependence that rises toward the blue, then becomes wavelength independent by day 45. The polarization drops rapidly during the first month, even as the flux is still climbing to peak brightness. None the less, unusually high polarization is maintained until day 68, at which point the polarization declines to levels comparable to those of previous well-studied SNe IIn. Only minor changes in position angle (PA) are measured throughout the evolution. The blue slope of the polarized continuum and polarized line emission during the first month suggests that an aspherical distribution of dust grains in pre-shock circumstellar material (CSM) is echoing the SN IIn spectrum and strongly influencing the polarization, while the subsequent decline during the wavelength-independent phase appears consistent with electron scattering near the SN/CSM interface. The persistence of the PA between these two phases suggests that the pre-existing CSM responsible for the dust scattering at early times is part of the same geometric structure as the electron-scattering region that dominates the polarization at later times. SN 2017hcc appears to be yet another, but more extreme, case of aspherical yet well-ordered CSM in Type IIn SNe, possibly resulting from pre-SN mass-loss shaped by a binary progenitor system. 

Abstract A tight positive correlation between the stellar mass and the gas-phase metallicity of galaxies has been observed at low redshifts. The redshift evolution of this correlation can strongly constrain theories of galaxy evolution. The advent of JWST allows probing the mass–metallicity relation at redshifts far beyond what was previously accessible. Here we report the discovery of two emission line galaxies at redshifts 8.15 and 8.16 in JWST NIRCam imaging and NIRSpec spectroscopy of targets gravitationally lensed by the cluster RX J2129.4+0005. We measure their metallicities and stellar masses along with nine additional galaxies at 7.2 <z_spec< 9.5 to report the first quantitative statistical inference of the mass–metallicity relation atz≈ 8. We measure ∼0.9 dex evolution in the normalization of the mass–metallicity relation fromz≈ 8 to the local universe; at a fixed stellar mass, galaxies are 8 times less metal enriched atz≈ 8 compared to the present day. Our inferred normalization is in agreement with the predictions of FIRE simulations. Our inferred slope of the mass–metallicity relation is similar to or slightly shallower than that predicted by FIRE or observed at lower redshifts. We compare thez≈ 8 galaxies to extremely low-metallicity analog candidates in the local universe, finding that they are generally distinct from extreme emission line galaxies or “green peas,” but are similar in strong emission line ratios and metallicities to “blueberry galaxies.” Despite this similarity, at a fixed stellar mass, thez≈ 8 galaxies have systematically lower metallicities compared to blueberry galaxies.