observations of optical transients and toos at saao & salttifrjet/presentations/buckley.pdf ·...
TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALTtifrjet/presentations/Buckley.pdf · 2016. 1. 25. · 1/25/16 University of Canterbury 2 SAAO Observing site - Sutherland](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022071218/6052b86e3e0ac021886b7b47/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALT
David Buckley SALT Scientist
SAAO
Collaborators:
M. Boettcher, J.B. Breytenbach, R. Britto, S. Chandra, E. Gorbovskoy, A. Kniazev, M. M. Kotze, V. Lipunov, A. Moin, M. Motsoaledi, S. Potter, S. Razzaque, K.P. Singh, P. Woudt
![Page 2: Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALTtifrjet/presentations/Buckley.pdf · 2016. 1. 25. · 1/25/16 University of Canterbury 2 SAAO Observing site - Sutherland](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022071218/6052b86e3e0ac021886b7b47/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
1/25/16
University of Canterbury 2
SAAO Observing site - Sutherland
• until 2005 (SALT), largest telescope was 1.9-m• since 2002 have added 6 telescopes of 1.0 - 1.6m• numerous smaller aperture robotic telescopes with specific missions (e.g. extra-solar planets) and most recently, transient detection (MASTER)
19 telescopes: 0.04m (KELT) – 10m (SALT)
Many international facilities hosted
![Page 3: Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALTtifrjet/presentations/Buckley.pdf · 2016. 1. 25. · 1/25/16 University of Canterbury 2 SAAO Observing site - Sutherland](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022071218/6052b86e3e0ac021886b7b47/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
SALT
One of the “Big Five”: Segmented Mirror Telescopes
• Keck I (1993) & Keck II (1996): Hawaii, USA
• HET (1999): Texas, USA• SALT (2005): South Africa• GRANTECAN (2009): Canary Islands,
Spain
These telescopes currently have the largest light grasp
![Page 4: Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALTtifrjet/presentations/Buckley.pdf · 2016. 1. 25. · 1/25/16 University of Canterbury 2 SAAO Observing site - Sutherland](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022071218/6052b86e3e0ac021886b7b47/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
New paradigm in design has been pioneered bythe HET in Texas.
![Page 5: Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALTtifrjet/presentations/Buckley.pdf · 2016. 1. 25. · 1/25/16 University of Canterbury 2 SAAO Observing site - Sutherland](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022071218/6052b86e3e0ac021886b7b47/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
SALT First-Generation Science Instruments
• Instruments chosen to give SALT a wide range of capabilities
• Ensure competitiveness with niche operational modes– UV, Fabry-Perot, high-speed, polarimetry
• Take advantage of SALT design and modus operandii• Nominally budgeted for 3 “first generation” instruments• First two (‘first light’) instruments:
– SALTICAM: a sensitive “video camera” (up to ~15 Hz)– Robert Stobie Spectrograph (RSS):a versatile imaging
spectrograph – Both installed in 2005
• Last one, a fibre-fed High Resolution Spectrograph– Delivered and installed in Sep 2013– Science Verification through to Apr 2014– Now fully operational
![Page 6: Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALTtifrjet/presentations/Buckley.pdf · 2016. 1. 25. · 1/25/16 University of Canterbury 2 SAAO Observing site - Sutherland](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022071218/6052b86e3e0ac021886b7b47/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
An example: a light curve of an eclipsing magnetic CV (Polar) taken with SALTICAM
Ingress/Egress = 1.2 to 1.5 sec
Each data point a 0.1 sec exposure
First SALT Science:Example of high time resolution
photometry
![Page 7: Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALTtifrjet/presentations/Buckley.pdf · 2016. 1. 25. · 1/25/16 University of Canterbury 2 SAAO Observing site - Sutherland](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022071218/6052b86e3e0ac021886b7b47/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Polars: Ideal ASTROSAT Multiwavelength Targets
Most of the energy from these systems is a result of accretion
3 main components to the SEDs:
cyclotron radiation from accretion column
hard X-ray emission, also from accretion column post-shock
soft X-ray emission, from heated surface of primary
Beuermann (1998)
![Page 8: Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALTtifrjet/presentations/Buckley.pdf · 2016. 1. 25. · 1/25/16 University of Canterbury 2 SAAO Observing site - Sutherland](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022071218/6052b86e3e0ac021886b7b47/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Observing With SALT• 100% queue scheduled service
observing• Variety of instruments/modes• Rapid instrument changes and
mode configurations• Scheduling allows for synoptic
monitoring at difference cadences• Targets of Opportunity can be done
at short notice• Ideal for followup of transients
![Page 9: Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALTtifrjet/presentations/Buckley.pdf · 2016. 1. 25. · 1/25/16 University of Canterbury 2 SAAO Observing site - Sutherland](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022071218/6052b86e3e0ac021886b7b47/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Examples of Successful Transient Observations1. Rapid Supernova Identification and Follow-up With SALT
PI: Robert Fesen (Dartmouth)A Target of Opportunity (ToO) campaign to classify nearby supernova candidates soon after they are discovered. Supernovae of interest may be monitored with additional follow-up spectra. The program is straightforward with rapid turn-around between initial observations and published identifications.
![Page 10: Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALTtifrjet/presentations/Buckley.pdf · 2016. 1. 25. · 1/25/16 University of Canterbury 2 SAAO Observing site - Sutherland](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022071218/6052b86e3e0ac021886b7b47/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
SALT observation of the Gamma Ray Burst GRB 060605
SALT Observations ~8 hours after alert• MSSSO (Australia) obs. when V ~ 15• SALT obs. at V ~ 21• Confirmation of Lyman break galaxy host
Examples of Successful Transient Observations2. Gamma Ray Burst Afterglows
![Page 11: Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALTtifrjet/presentations/Buckley.pdf · 2016. 1. 25. · 1/25/16 University of Canterbury 2 SAAO Observing site - Sutherland](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022071218/6052b86e3e0ac021886b7b47/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Simultaneous ToOs of Xray transients: GX 339-4(Marissa Kotze & Phil Charles)
Looking for evidence of reprocessing in X-ray flares
Examples of Successful Transient Observations3 . X-ray transients & Low Mass X-ray Binaries
![Page 12: Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALTtifrjet/presentations/Buckley.pdf · 2016. 1. 25. · 1/25/16 University of Canterbury 2 SAAO Observing site - Sutherland](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022071218/6052b86e3e0ac021886b7b47/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Other Examples of SALT ToO Science:demonstrating queue scheduling & quick reaction ability
Cir X-1: periastron passage (Schurch et al)
Coordinated with radio (KAT-7) observations
(Charles, Maccarone, et al)
(Odendaal et al)
RX J0513.9-6951: Transient SSS in LMC
(Odendaal et al)
CAL83
![Page 13: Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALTtifrjet/presentations/Buckley.pdf · 2016. 1. 25. · 1/25/16 University of Canterbury 2 SAAO Observing site - Sutherland](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022071218/6052b86e3e0ac021886b7b47/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
New Transient Observation Opportunities
• First local optical transient detection system installed at SAAO in Dec 2014o MASTER-SAAO node (2 x 0.4m; 4 – 8 sq ° FoV) o Russian led network (now with nodes in Argentina and Canaries)o No longer reliant on alerts from external transient detection systems
(e.g. at other longitudes)
![Page 14: Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALTtifrjet/presentations/Buckley.pdf · 2016. 1. 25. · 1/25/16 University of Canterbury 2 SAAO Observing site - Sutherland](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022071218/6052b86e3e0ac021886b7b47/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
![Page 15: Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALTtifrjet/presentations/Buckley.pdf · 2016. 1. 25. · 1/25/16 University of Canterbury 2 SAAO Observing site - Sutherland](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022071218/6052b86e3e0ac021886b7b47/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
MASTER details
• WIDE field MASTER-II (D=400mm)• 8 sq.deg or 4 sq. deg in 2 filters
v = 20 per 60s exp • Can measure Stokes Q, U with pol.
filters
• Robotic wide-field camera
VWF• 1000 square degrees , V= 12 in 1 sec exp• Coaligned with MASTER II telescopes
![Page 16: Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALTtifrjet/presentations/Buckley.pdf · 2016. 1. 25. · 1/25/16 University of Canterbury 2 SAAO Observing site - Sutherland](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022071218/6052b86e3e0ac021886b7b47/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
MASTER’s Aims
• Discovery of new optical transients
• Followup of transient alerts from other multiwavelength facilities– GRBs (e.g. within ~100s of SWIFT)– Blazar flares (e.g. FERMI)
– Neutrino events (e.g. ANTARES)– Gravitational wave events (e.g. LIGO)
– Exoplanets– Supernovae
• Solar Systems transients– Asteroids
– Comets
• Monitoring of transient events– e.g. V442 Cyg polarimetry
– Blazar flare evolution– CV outbursts
![Page 17: Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALTtifrjet/presentations/Buckley.pdf · 2016. 1. 25. · 1/25/16 University of Canterbury 2 SAAO Observing site - Sutherland](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022071218/6052b86e3e0ac021886b7b47/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
MASTER Alerts• All MASTER Optical Transient detections published in Atels• Website list all MASTER transients and includes images,
coordinates, amplitudes and sometimes colors or polarization properties (see http://observ.pereplet.ru/MASTER_OT.html )
• Links for GCN and other relevant websites
![Page 18: Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALTtifrjet/presentations/Buckley.pdf · 2016. 1. 25. · 1/25/16 University of Canterbury 2 SAAO Observing site - Sutherland](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022071218/6052b86e3e0ac021886b7b47/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
MASTER contributions to transient alerts in Astronomer’s telegrams
2013-2014
Swift
MASTERFermi
INTEGRAL
Chandra
Ломоносовские чтения, 2015
![Page 19: Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALTtifrjet/presentations/Buckley.pdf · 2016. 1. 25. · 1/25/16 University of Canterbury 2 SAAO Observing site - Sutherland](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022071218/6052b86e3e0ac021886b7b47/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
MASTER Sky Coverage
• Whole sky (N & S)• Including Galactic Plane (but lower priority)• MASTER-SAAO coverage:
– +30° > Dec > -90° in survey mode
– To northern limit (~40°) for followup
# CCD images
![Page 20: Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALTtifrjet/presentations/Buckley.pdf · 2016. 1. 25. · 1/25/16 University of Canterbury 2 SAAO Observing site - Sutherland](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022071218/6052b86e3e0ac021886b7b47/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
The MASTER System
MASTER (total) CRTS (total) MASTER-SAAO SSS MLS CSS
(Sutherland, South Africa
(Siding Spring,
Australia)
(Mt Lemon, USA) (Catalina, USA)
Tel. Diameter (m) 2 x 0.4 0.5 1.5 0.7
Exposures 3 x 60 (grey/bright)3 x 180 (dark) 4 x 30 3 x 60 (grey/bright)
3 x 180 (dark)4 x 30
4 x 30
4 x 30
FoV (deg2) 42 13.3 4 4 1.1 8.2
Area/night (deg2) ~5000 ~2500 (?) 400-500
Limiting V mag 18-20 22 19.8 (dark)18.8 (grey)
Cadence 10 – 15 days 7 – 10 days Not operating
• MASTER II system compared to Catalina Real Time Survey– Cadence for any given field ~7-10 days– SSS stopped operations in 2013
![Page 21: Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALTtifrjet/presentations/Buckley.pdf · 2016. 1. 25. · 1/25/16 University of Canterbury 2 SAAO Observing site - Sutherland](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022071218/6052b86e3e0ac021886b7b47/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
MASTER-SAAO - installed and commissioned in < 3 weeks by late December 2014Over 200 new Optical Transients discovered, and 143 in the first ~9 months with following breakdown:• 109 DNe with m > 2m)• 1 polar• 1 novalike• 20 SNe• 4 LPVs• 3 flare stars • 2 GRB optical counterparts• 2 comets• 1 anti-transient (VY Scl novalike)
Plus followup observations of othertransient alerts: 7 blazar flares many asteroids
![Page 22: Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALTtifrjet/presentations/Buckley.pdf · 2016. 1. 25. · 1/25/16 University of Canterbury 2 SAAO Observing site - Sutherland](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022071218/6052b86e3e0ac021886b7b47/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
MASTER OT J141922.56-083831.7 bright blazar flare
MASTER-Kislovodsk auto-detection system discovered OT on 2015-02-21.98773 UT, m =14.6 (Atel 7133)Blazar flare was observed at SALT (DDT) reported in Atel 7167
If em line is MgII →z = 0.9significantly polarized
![Page 23: Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALTtifrjet/presentations/Buckley.pdf · 2016. 1. 25. · 1/25/16 University of Canterbury 2 SAAO Observing site - Sutherland](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022071218/6052b86e3e0ac021886b7b47/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
MASTER OT J141922.56-083831.7 bright blazar flare
Modelling underway (Sunil Chandra& Richard Britto)
![Page 24: Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALTtifrjet/presentations/Buckley.pdf · 2016. 1. 25. · 1/25/16 University of Canterbury 2 SAAO Observing site - Sutherland](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022071218/6052b86e3e0ac021886b7b47/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
GRB 141225A: First MASTER-SAAO GRB detection GCN Circular #17237
MASTER-SAAO was automatically pointed to the Swift alert (33 sec after Swift notice time) and to Fermi GRB 141225A
~ 0.76+-0.10 upto to 300s~ 1.51 from 400s to 1500s ~1 mag depression at 329 sec.
Limit to 22.3
GRB 150301B (GCN Circular 17518; 1 Mar)Second detection • at m= 15.3• weather RH precluded an attempted SALT observation (also no auto-alert)• ESO VLT spectroscopy (X-SHOOTER), 5 hours after the burst, at R = 21 • several absorption features (FeII, MgII, MgI), • redshift of 1.52.
![Page 25: Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALTtifrjet/presentations/Buckley.pdf · 2016. 1. 25. · 1/25/16 University of Canterbury 2 SAAO Observing site - Sutherland](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022071218/6052b86e3e0ac021886b7b47/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
MASTER Detection & Followup Capabilities
• MASTER can go as deep as V ~22• As demonstrated when searching for GRB afterglows
20 co-added 180s exp (1h total) filter-less exposures resulted in an upper limit determination of ~22.3, the faintest limit achieved of all MASTER nodes.
GRB150301B:Faded from 15.5 – 19 in 1100s~; 8% polarized
![Page 26: Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALTtifrjet/presentations/Buckley.pdf · 2016. 1. 25. · 1/25/16 University of Canterbury 2 SAAO Observing site - Sutherland](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022071218/6052b86e3e0ac021886b7b47/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
V404 Cyg: detection of polarization variablilty
MASTER (northern nodes) have detected polarization on two occasions, during dips.
![Page 27: Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALTtifrjet/presentations/Buckley.pdf · 2016. 1. 25. · 1/25/16 University of Canterbury 2 SAAO Observing site - Sutherland](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022071218/6052b86e3e0ac021886b7b47/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
Classification of MASTER OT J061451.70-272535.5 as an eclipsing polar
• Discovered Feb 20 at m = 18 transient• Followed up photometrically • Light curves show eclipses and stream
obscuration, typical of Polar• Orbital period = 2.1 h
![Page 28: Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALTtifrjet/presentations/Buckley.pdf · 2016. 1. 25. · 1/25/16 University of Canterbury 2 SAAO Observing site - Sutherland](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022071218/6052b86e3e0ac021886b7b47/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
Classification of MASTER OT J061451.70-272535.5 as an eclipsing polar
• SALT DDT confirms mCV spectrum (strong HeII)• ATel #7169
![Page 29: Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALTtifrjet/presentations/Buckley.pdf · 2016. 1. 25. · 1/25/16 University of Canterbury 2 SAAO Observing site - Sutherland](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022071218/6052b86e3e0ac021886b7b47/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
New MASTER CVs
• MASTER has discovered 1000 optical transients (since 2011; ~4 years)
• 530 new CVs discovered by MASTER network
• Compare to 705 new CVs from CRTS (+150 known) in ~5 years (Nov 2007 – Aug 2012; Drake et al. 2014)
• MASTER-SAAO has discovered 111 CVs– Mostly DNe detected with amplitudes:2 – 3 mags: 30%3 – 4 mags: 20%4 – 5 mags: 30%>5 mags: 20%
• Consistent with CRTS results
CRTS CVs
![Page 30: Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALTtifrjet/presentations/Buckley.pdf · 2016. 1. 25. · 1/25/16 University of Canterbury 2 SAAO Observing site - Sutherland](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022071218/6052b86e3e0ac021886b7b47/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
MASTER CV Distribution
• For 530 CVs (detection threshold >2m amplitude from reference frame)
![Page 31: Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALTtifrjet/presentations/Buckley.pdf · 2016. 1. 25. · 1/25/16 University of Canterbury 2 SAAO Observing site - Sutherland](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022071218/6052b86e3e0ac021886b7b47/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
CRTS CV Distribution
• For 855 CVs (detection criteria m > 0.6m in 3 out of 4 images)
![Page 32: Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALTtifrjet/presentations/Buckley.pdf · 2016. 1. 25. · 1/25/16 University of Canterbury 2 SAAO Observing site - Sutherland](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022071218/6052b86e3e0ac021886b7b47/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
New Transient Observation Opportunities
• MASTER will be joined soon (later in 2015) by MeerLICHT (0.65 m; 2 sq ° FoV)o Joint Dutch-SAAO ventureo Optical monitoring of MeerKAT fieldso Correlate with radio transients
![Page 33: Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALTtifrjet/presentations/Buckley.pdf · 2016. 1. 25. · 1/25/16 University of Canterbury 2 SAAO Observing site - Sutherland](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022071218/6052b86e3e0ac021886b7b47/html5/thumbnails/33.jpg)
New Transient Observation Opportunities
• Plan to follow-up selected transients with SALT and new SAAO robotic facilitieso MONET 1.2m (German-SA bilateral project)o new SAAO 1.0 m robotoico instruments including CCD and high speed
EM-CCD cameras and spectrograph(s)
![Page 34: Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALTtifrjet/presentations/Buckley.pdf · 2016. 1. 25. · 1/25/16 University of Canterbury 2 SAAO Observing site - Sutherland](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022071218/6052b86e3e0ac021886b7b47/html5/thumbnails/34.jpg)
SAAO Telescope “farm” on the Sutherland plateau
(Six 1 – 1.6m telescopes since 2002)
MASTER(2 x 0.4m)
MeerLICHT(0.65m)
Robotic 1-m
MONET (1.2-m)
![Page 35: Observations of Optical Transients and ToOs at SAAO & SALTtifrjet/presentations/Buckley.pdf · 2016. 1. 25. · 1/25/16 University of Canterbury 2 SAAO Observing site - Sutherland](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022071218/6052b86e3e0ac021886b7b47/html5/thumbnails/35.jpg)
FINAL REMARKS
• SALT well suited to ToOs and followup of transients (optical, X-ray, gamma ray), including SNe, GRBs (when caught early enough), CVs, blazar flares, X-ray transients
• New transient detections systems at Sutherland (MASTER-SAAO & soon MeerLICHT)
• • New follow-up facilities at SAAO coming on-line soon (1-m
robotic, MONET), plus auto-alert/scheduling system
• MASTER alerts and followups can provide experience ahead of data deluges from other facilities (e.g. LSST)
• Multi-wavelength opportunities (e.g. now with: KAT-7, HESS, X-ray missions; future with: MeerKAT, HESS, ASTROSAT… SKA, CTA…)