Hubble Space Telescope imaging of the progenitor sites of six nearby core-collapse supernovae

The search for the progenitors of six core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe) in archival Hubble Space Telescope ( HST ) WFPC2 pre-explosion imaging is presented. These SNe are 1999an, 1999br, 1999ev, 2000ds, 2000ew and 2001B. Post-explosion imaging of the SNe, with the HST ACS/WFC, has been utilized with the technique of differential astrometry to identify the progenitor locations on the pre-explosion imaging. SNe 1999br, 1999ev, 2000ew and 2001B are recovered in late-time imaging, and estimates of the progenitor locations on the pre-explosion imaging, with subpixel accuracy, have been made. Only the progenitor of the Type II-P SN 1999ev has been recovered, on pre-explosion F555W imaging, at a 4.8σ significance level. Assuming a red supergiant progenitor, the pre-explosion observation is consistent with   M _ZAMS= 15–18 M_⊙  . The progenitors of the other five SNe were below the 3σ detection threshold of the pre-explosion observations. The detection thresholds were translated to mass limits for the progenitors by comparison with stellar evolution models. Pre-explosion observations of the peculiarly faint SN 1999br limit the mass of a red supergiant progenitor to   M _ZAMS < 12 M_⊙  . Analysis has been extended, from previous studies, to include possible detections of high- T _eff, high-mass stars by conducting synthetic photometry of model Wolf–Rayet star spectra. The mass limits for the Type II-P SNe 1999an and 1999br are consistent with previously determined mass limits for this type of SN. The detection limits for the progenitors of the Type Ibc SNe (2000ds, 2000ew and 2001B) do not permit differentiation between high-mass Wolf–Rayet progenitors or low-mass progenitors in binaries.     

Chandra observations of the X-ray jet in 3C 66B

Our Chandra observation of the FR I radio galaxy 3C 66B has resulted in the first detection of an X-ray counterpart to the previously known radio, infrared and optical jet. The X-ray jet is detected up to 7 arcsec from the core and has a steep X-ray spectrum, α ≈1.3±0.1 . The overall X-ray flux density and spectrum of the jet are consistent with a synchrotron origin for the X-ray emission. However, the inner knot in the jet has a higher ratio of X-ray to radio emission than the others. This suggests that either two distinct emission processes are present or differences in the acceleration mechanism are required; there may be a contribution to the emission from the inner knot from an inverse Compton process or it may be the site of an early strong shock in the jet. The peak of the brightest radio and X-ray knot is significantly closer to the nucleus in the X-ray than in the radio, which may suggest that the knots are privileged sites for high-energy particle acceleration. 3C 66B's jet is similar both in overall spectral shape and in structural detail to those in more nearby sources such as M87 and Centaurus A.     

A search for giant pulses in Vela-like pulsars

We have carried out a survey for 'giant pulses' in six young, Vela-like pulsars. In no cases did we find single pulses with flux densities more than 10 times the mean flux density. However, in PSR  B1706–44  we have detected giant micro-pulses very similar to those seen in the Vela pulsar. In PSR  B1706–44  these giant micro-pulses appear on the trailing edge of the profile and have an intrinsic width of ∼1 ms. The cumulative probability distribution of their intensities is best described by a power law. If the power law continues to higher intensities, then  3.7×10⁶  rotations are required to obtain a pulse with 20× the mean pulse flux. This number is similar to the giant pulse rate in PSR B1937+21 and PSR  B1821–24  but significantly higher than that for the Crab.     

The Forming Conditions of and Ore-searching Direction for B, Mg,Pb, Zn and Au Deposits in the Liaoji Proterozoic Rift

The Proterozoic was the first of severa1 impor-tant transitional periods in the earth's evolutionaryhistory. Linear .rifts over1apped on the b4se ofArchean granite -- greenstone and high -- grade gneissregimes. Along with the formation and evolution ofthe…     

G359.95-0.04: an energetic pulsar candidate near Sgr A*

We report the discovery of a prominent non-thermal X-ray feature located near the Galactic centre that we identify as an energetic pulsar wind nebula. This feature, G359.95-0.04, lies 1-lyr north of Sgr A* (in projection), is comet like in shape, and has a power-law spectrum that steepens with increasing distance from the putative pulsar. The distinct spectral and spatial X-ray characteristics of the feature are similar to those belonging to the rare class of ram-pressure confined pulsar wind nebulae. The luminosity of the nebula at the distance of Sgr A*, consistent with the inferred X-ray absorptions, is   L_x ∼ 1 × 10³⁴ erg s⁻¹  in the 2–10 keV energy band. The cometary tail extends back to a region centred at the massive stellar complex IRS 13 and surrounded by an enhanced diffuse X-ray emission, which may represent an associated supernova remnant. Furthermore, the inverse Compton scattering of the strong ambient radiation by the nebula consistently explains the observed TeV emission from the Galactic centre. We also briefly discuss plausible connections of G359.95-0.04 to other high-energy sources in the region, such as the young stellar complexes IRS 13 and SNR Sgr A East.     

Absorption of nuclear γ-rays on the starlight radiation in FR I sources: the case of Centaurus A

Several BL Lac objects are confirmed sources of variable and strongly Doppler-boosted TeV emission produced in the nuclear portions of their relativistic jets. It is more than probable that also many of the Fanaroff–Riley type I (FR I) radio galaxies, believed to be the parent population of BL Lacs, are TeV sources, for which Doppler-hidden nuclear γ-ray radiation may be only too weak to be directly observed. Here we show, however, that about 1 per cent of the total time-averaged TeV radiation produced by the active nuclei of low-power FR I radio sources is inevitably absorbed and re-processed by photon–photon annihilation on the starlight photon field, and the following emission of the created and quickly isotropized electron–positron pairs. In the case of the radio galaxy Centaurus A, we found that the discussed mechanism can give a distinctive observable feature in the form of an isotropic γ-ray halo. It results from the electron–positron pairs injected to the interstellar medium of the inner parts of the elliptical host by the absorption process, and upscattering starlight radiation via the inverse-Compton process mainly to the GeV–TeV photon energy range. Such a galactic γ-ray halo is expected to possess a characteristic spectrum peaking at ∼0.1 TeV photon energies, and the photon flux strong enough to be detected by modern Cherenkov Telescopes and, in the future, by GLAST. These findings should apply as well to the other nearby FR I sources.