SN Refsdal

SN Refsdal

SN Refsdal (inset picture) and galaxy cluster MACS J1149.6+2223. Credit: Hubble/NASA/ESA/STScI/UCLA
Observation data (Epoch J2000)
Supernova type Unknown
Constellation Leo
Right ascension 11h 49m 35.45s[1]
Declination 22° 23′ 44.84″[1]
Discovery date 11 November 2014
Patrick Kelly (GLASS)
Distance z=1.49[1]
Physical characteristics
Progenitor unknown
Notable features First multiply-lensed supernova

SN Refsdal is the first detected multiply-lensed supernova, visible within the field of the galaxy cluster MACS J1149+2223. It was given its nickname in honor of the Norwegian astrophysicist Sjur Refsdal, who, in 1964, first proposed using time-delayed images from a lensed supernova to study the expansion of the universe.[1][2][3] The observations were made using the Hubble Space Telescope.[4]

Einstein cross

The host galaxy of SN Refsdal is at a redshift of 1.49, corresponding to a comoving distance of 14.4 billion light-years and a lookback time of 9.34 billion years.[5] The multiple images are arranged around the elliptical galaxy at z = 0.54 in a cross-shaped pattern, also known as an "Einstein cross".[1]

When the four images fade away, astronomers predict they will have the rare opportunity to see the supernova again. This is because the current four-image pattern is only one component of the lensing display. The supernova may have appeared as a single image some 40–50 years ago elsewhere in the cluster field, and it is expected to reappear once more in about one year. The magnifications and staggered arrivals of the supernova images will help astronomers probe the cosmic expansion rate, as well as the distribution of matter and dark matter in the galaxy and cluster lenses.[1]

Reappearance

The image to the left shows a part of the deep field observation of the galaxy cluster MACS J1149.5+2223 from the Frontier Fields programme. The circle indicates the predicted position of the newest appearance of the supernova. To the lower right the Einstein cross event from late 2014 is visible. The image on the top right shows observations by Hubble from October 2015, taken at the beginning of the observation programme to detect the newest appearance of the supernova. The image on the lower right shows the discovery of the Refsdal Supernova on 11 December 2015, as predicted by several different models.

The supernova Refsdal reappeared punctually at the predicted position between mid November 2015 and December 11, 2015[6] (with the exact date being uncertain by approximately one month which is the interval between two consecutive Hubble observations),[7] in excellent agreement with the blind model predictions made before the reappearance was observed.[8][9] [10]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kelly, P. L.; Rodney, S. A.; Treu, T.; Foley, R. J.; Brammer, G.; Schmidt, K. B.; Zitrin, A.; Sonnenfeld, A.; Strolger, L. -G.; Graur, O.; Filippenko, A. V.; Jha, S. W.; Riess, A. G.; Bradac, M.; Weiner, B. J.; Scolnic, D.; Malkan, M. A.; von Der Linden, A.; Trenti, M.; Hjorth, J.; Gavazzi, R.; Fontana, A.; Merten, J. C.; McCully, C.; Jones, T.; Postman, M.; Dressler, A.; Patel, B.; Cenko, S. B.; et al. (2015). "Multiple images of a highly magnified supernova formed by an early-type cluster galaxy lens". Science. 347 (6226): 1123. arXiv:1411.6009Freely accessible. Bibcode:2015Sci...347.1123K. doi:10.1126/science.aaa3350.
  2. ↑ Overbye, Dennis (March 5, 2015). "Astronomers Observe Supernova and Find They're Watching Reruns". New York Times. Retrieved March 5, 2015.
  3. ↑ Amina Khan (5 March 2015). "Don't believe the light: Supernova in 'Einstein Cross' is a cosmic trick". Los Angeles Times.
  4. ↑ Sharon, K.; Johnson, T. L. (2015). "Revised Lens Model for the Multiply Imaged Lensed Supernova, "Sn Refsdal" in Macs J1149+2223". The Astrophysical Journal. 800 (2): L26. arXiv:1411.6933Freely accessible. Bibcode:2015ApJ...800L..26S. doi:10.1088/2041-8205/800/2/L26.
  5. ↑ "Cosmological redshift z=1.49". Wolfram Alpha. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  6. ↑ "Caught in the act - Hubble captures first-ever predicted exploding star". www.spacetelescope.org. Retrieved 2015-12-19.
  7. ↑ "Detection of a SN near the center of the galaxy cluster field MACS1149 consistent with predictions of a new image of Supernova Refsdal". Patrick Kelly. The Astronomer's Telegram. 13 Dec 2015.
  8. ↑ Oguri, Masamune (2015). "Predicted Properties of Multiple Images of the Strongly Lensed Supernova SN Refsdal". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 449 (1): L86–L89. arXiv:1411.6443Freely accessible. Bibcode:2015MNRAS.449L..86O. doi:10.1093/mnrasl/slv025.
  9. ↑ Diego, J.M; Broadhurst, T.; Chen, C.; Lim, J.; Zitrin, A.; Chan, B.; Coe7, D.; Ford, H. C.; Lam, D.; Zheng, W. (2016). "A Free-Form Prediction for the Reappearance of Supernova Refsdal in the Hubble Frontier Fields Cluster MACSJ1149.5+2223". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 456 (1): 356–365. arXiv:1504.05953Freely accessible. Bibcode:2016MNRAS.456..356D. doi:10.1093/mnras/stv2638.
  10. ↑ Treu, T; et. al (2016). "Refsdal meets Popper: comparing predictions of the re-appearance of the multiply imaged supernova behind MACS1149.5+2223". The Astrophysical Journal. – (-): –. arXiv:1510.05750Freely accessible. Bibcode:2016ApJ...817...60T. doi:10.3847/0004-637X/817/1/60.
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