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We present the largest Galactic neutral hydrogen HI absorption survey to date, utilizing the Australian SKA Pathfinder Telescope at an unprecedented spatial resolution of 30''. This survey, GASKAP-HI, unbiasedly targets 2,714 continuum background sources over 250 square degrees in the direction of the Magellanic Clouds, a significant increase compared to a total of 373 sources observed by previous Galactic absorption surveys across the entire Milky Way. We aim to investigate the physical properties of cold (CNM) and warm (WNM) neutral atomic gas in the Milky Way foreground, characterized by two prominent filaments at high Galactic latitudes (between $-45^{\circ}$ and $-25^{\circ}$). We detected strong HI absorption along 462 lines of sight above the 3$\sigma$ threshold, achieving an absorption detection rate of 17%. GASKAP-HI's unprecedented angular resolution allows for simultaneous absorption and emission measurements to sample almost the same gas clouds along a line of sight. A joint Gaussian decomposition is then applied to absorption-emission spectra to provide direct estimates of HI optical depths, temperatures, and column densities for the CNM and WNM components. The thermal properties of CNM components are consistent with those previously observed along a wide range of Solar neighborhood environments, indicating that cold HI properties are widely prevalent throughout the local interstellar medium. Across our region of interest, CNM accounts for ~30% of the total HI gas, with the CNM fraction increasing with column density toward the two filaments. Our analysis reveals an anti-correlation between CNM temperature and its optical depth, which implies that CNM with lower optical depth leads to a higher temperature., Comment: Largest Galactic HI Absorption Survey To Date (GASKAP-HI): Cold Atomic Gas in the Magellanic Cloud foreground using Australian SKA Pathfinder. This paper has 19 pages, 17 figures. This paper has been accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Main Journal

We utilize the Quark-Nova (QN) model for Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs; Ouyed et al. 2021) to evaluate its performance in reproducing the distribution and statistical properties of key observations. These include frequency, duration, fluence, dispersion measure (DM), and other relevant features such as repetition, periodicity, and the sad trombone effect. In our model, FRBs are attributed to coherent synchrotron emission (CSE) originating from collisionless QN chunks that traverse ionized media both within and outside their host galaxies. By considering burst repetition from a single chunk and accounting for the intrinsic DM of the chunks, we discover a significant agreement between our model and the observed properties of FRBs. This agreement enhances our confidence in the model's effectiveness for interpreting FRB observations. One notable characteristic of our model is that QN chunks can undergo bursts after traveling significant distances from their host galaxies. As a result, these bursts appear to observers as hostless thus lacking a discernible progenitor. This unique aspect of our model provides valuable insights into the nature of FRBs. Furthermore, our model generates testable predictions, allowing for future experiments and observations to validate and further refine our understanding of FRBs., Comment: 28 journal pages, 16 figures, 2 tables

The Tully-Fisher Relation (TFR) is a well-known empirical relationship between the luminosity of a spiral galaxy and its circular velocity, allowing us to estimate redshift independent distances. Here we use high signal-to-noise HI 21-cm integrated spectra from the second pilot data release (PDR2, 180 deg2) of the Widefield ASKAP L-band Legacy All-sky Blind surveY (WALLABY). In order to prepare for the full WALLABY survey, we have investigated the TFR in phase 2 of the pilot survey with a further three fields. The data were obtained with wide-field Phased Array Feeds on the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) and have an angular resolution of 30 arcsec and a velocity resolution of ~4 km/s. Galaxy luminosities have been measured from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), and optical galaxy inclinations from the Dark Energy Camera Legacy Survey. We present TFRs for wavelengths from 0.8-3.4{\mu}m. We examine sources of galaxy inclination data and investigate magnitudes from the DECam Local Volume Exploration Survey (DELVE) and DENIS catalogues and the 4HS target catalogue based on the VISTA Hemisphere Survey (VHS). We consider the baryonic TFR. These are all of interest for TFR using the full WALLABY survey of 200,000 galaxies. We demonstrate that WALLABY TFR distances can take their place among state of the art studies of the local velocity field., Comment: to appear in MNRAS. One figure removed

We report the ASKAP discovery of a new Galactic supernova remnant (SNR) candidate G308.73+1.38, which we name Raspberry. This new SNR candidate has an angular size of 20.7 arcmin $\times$ 16.7 arcmin, and we measure a total integrated flux of 407$\pm$50 mJy. We estimate Raspberry's most likely diameter of 10$-$30 pc which would place it at a distance of 3$-$5 kpc, on the near side of the Milky Way's Scutum$-$Centaurus Arm. We also find a Stokes$-$V point source close to the centre of Raspberry with a $\sim$5$\sigma$ significance. This point source may be the remaining compact source, a neutron star, or possibly a pulsar, formed during the initial supernova event., Comment: 3 pages, 1 figure

We propose a new method for identifying active galactic nuclei (AGN) in low mass ($\rm M_*\leq10^{10}M_\odot$) galaxies. This method relies on spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting to identify galaxies whose radio flux density has an excess over that expected from star formation alone. Combining data in the Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA) G23 region from GAMA, Evolutionary Map of the Universe (EMU) early science observations, and Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), we compare this technique with a selection of different AGN diagnostics to explore the similarities and differences in AGN classification. We find that diagnostics based on optical and near-infrared criteria (the standard BPT diagram, the WISE colour criterion, and the mass-excitation, or MEx diagram) tend to favour detection of AGN in high mass, high luminosity systems, while the ``ProSpect'' SED fitting tool can identify AGN efficiently in low mass systems. We investigate an explanation for this result in the context of proportionally lower mass black holes in lower mass galaxies compared to higher mass galaxies and differing proportions of emission from AGN and star formation dominating the light at optical and infrared wavelengths as a function of galaxy stellar mass. We conclude that SED-derived AGN classification is an efficient approach to identify low mass hosts with low radio luminosity AGN., Comment: 16 pages, 12 figures, 5 tables. Accepted for publication in PASA

The structure and dynamics of the star-forming disk of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) have long confounded us. The SMC is widely used as a prototype for galactic physics at low metallicity, and yet we fundamentally lack an understanding of the structure of its interstellar medium (ISM). In this work, we present a new model for the SMC by comparing the kinematics of young, massive stars with the structure of the ISM traced by high-resolution observations of neutral atomic hydrogen (HI) from the Galactic Australian Square Kilometer Array Pathfinder survey (GASKAP-HI). Specifically, we identify thousands of young, massive stars with precise radial velocity constraints from the Gaia and APOGEE surveys and match these stars to the ISM structures in which they likely formed. By comparing the average dust extinction towards these stars, we find evidence that the SMC is composed of two structures with distinct stellar and gaseous chemical compositions. We construct a simple model that successfully reproduces the observations and shows that the ISM of the SMC is arranged into two, superimposed, star-forming systems with similar gas mass separated by ~5 kpc along the line of sight., Comment: ApJ accepted. 20 pages, 18 figures

We report the discovery of a bow-shock pulsar wind nebula (PWN), named Potoroo, and the detection of a young pulsar J1638-4713 that powers the nebula. We present a radio continuum study of the PWN based on 20-cm observations obtained from the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) and MeerKAT. PSR J1638-4713 was identified using Parkes radio telescope observations at frequencies above 3 GHz. The pulsar has the second-highest dispersion measure of all known radio pulsars (1553 pc/cm^3), a spin period of 65.74 ms and a spin-down luminosity of 6.1x10^36 erg/s. The PWN has a cometary morphology and one of the greatest projected lengths among all the observed pulsar radio tails, measuring over 21 pc for an assumed distance of 10 kpc. The remarkably long tail and atypically steep radio spectral index are attributed to the interplay of a supernova reverse shock and the PWN. The originating supernova remnant is not known so far. We estimated the pulsar kick velocity to be in the range of 1000-2000 km/s for ages between 23 and 10 kyr. The X-ray counterpart found in Chandra data, CXOU J163802.6-471358, shows the same tail morphology as the radio source but is shorter by a factor of 10. The peak of the X-ray emission is offset from the peak of the radio total intensity (Stokes I) emission by approximately 4.7", but coincides well with circularly polarised (Stokes V) emission. No infrared counterpart was found., Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures, 4 tables; Accepted for publication in PASA on 18 Jan 2024

The purpose of this work is to describe the assumptions built into the X-ray spectrum fitting software XSPEC for the calculation of element abundances and emission measure of a plasma and to describe the effects when those assumptions are not accurate. The ratio of electron density to hydrogen density in XSPEC is fixed at a constant. The correct ratio can be calculated from the ionization states of the elements. We show the constant value used in XSPEC is valid to within 3.5% for a solar abundance plasma. For a plasma that deviates from solar abundance, such as hydrogen-poor or heavy element rich plasmas as found in the ejecta of supernova remnants, this ratio can smaller by factors of 0.1 to 0.001. The hydrogen emission measure, defined by integral of electron density times hydrogen density over plasma volume, is derived from the norm in XSPEC, but one needs to include the hydrogen abundance factor. For other elements, the emission measures are the XSPEC values multiplied by the element abundance factors. Using the correct electron-to-hydrogen ratio and emission measures, we show the correct electron density is smaller by the square root of the correct electron density ratio divided by the XSPEC value. Element densities and total masses (for given distance and volume) are larger by the abundance factors divided by the above square root. Because hydrogen-poor plasmas occur in the ejecta of Type Ia supernova remnants, previously estimated element masses from X-ray spectra are likely significantly underestimated., Comment: 31 pages, 7 figures

We present the serendipitous detection of a new Galactic Supernova Remnant (SNR), G288.8-6.3 using data from the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP)-Evolutionary Map of the Universe (EMU) survey. Using multi-frequency analysis, we confirm this object as an evolved Galactic SNR at high Galactic latitude with low radio surface brightness and typical SNR spectral index of $\alpha = -0.41\pm0.12$. To determine the magnetic field strength in SNR G288.8-6.3, we present the first derivation of the equipartition formulae for SNRs with spectral indices $\alpha>-0.5$. The angular size is $1.\!^\circ 8\times 1.\!^\circ 6$ $(107.\!^\prime 6 \times 98.\!^\prime 4)$ and we estimate that its intrinsic size is $\sim40$pc which implies a distance of $\sim1.3$kpc and a position of $\sim140$pc above the Galactic plane. This is one of the largest angular size and closest Galactic SNRs. Given its low radio surface brightness, we suggest that it is about 13000 years old., Comment: Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal

We use data from the pilot observations of the EMU/POSSUM surveys to study the "missing supernova remnant (SNR) problem", the discrepancy between the number of Galactic SNRs that have been observed and the number that are estimated to exist. The Evolutionary Map of the Universe (EMU) and the Polarization Sky Survey of the Universe's Magnetism (POSSUM) are radio sky surveys that are conducted using the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP). We report on the properties of 7 known SNRs in the joint Galactic pilot field, with an approximate longitude and latitude of 323$^\circ\leq$ l $\leq$ 330$^\circ$ and -4$^\circ\leq$ b $\leq$ 2$^\circ$ respectively, and identify 21 SNR candidates. Of these, 4 have been previously identified as SNR candidates, 3 were previously listed as a single SNR, 13 have not been previously studied, and 1 has been studied in the infrared. These are the first discoveries of Galactic SNR candidates with EMU/POSSUM and, if confirmed, they will increase the SNR density in this field by a factor of 4. By comparing our SNR candidates to the known Galactic SNR population, we demonstrate that many of these sources were likely missed in previous surveys due to their small angular size and/or low surface brightness. We suspect that there are SNRs in this field that remain undetected due to limitations set by the local background and confusion with other radio sources. The results of this paper demonstrate the potential of the full EMU/POSSUM surveys to uncover more of the missing Galactic SNR population.

The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is capable of delivering an unprecedented all-sky, high-spatial resolution, multi-epoch infrared map to the astronomical community. This opportunity arises in the midst of numerous ground- and space-based surveys that will provide extensive spectroscopy and imaging together covering the entire sky (such as Rubin/LSST, Euclid, UNIONS, SPHEREx, DESI, SDSS-V, GALAH, 4MOST, WEAVE, MOONS, PFS, UVEX, NEO Surveyor, etc.). Roman can uniquely provide uniform high-spatial-resolution (~0.1 arcsec) imaging over the entire sky, vastly expanding the science reach and precision of all of these near-term and future surveys. This imaging will not only enhance other surveys, but also facilitate completely new science. By imaging the full sky over two epochs, Roman can measure the proper motions for stars across the entire Milky Way, probing 100 times fainter than Gaia out to the very edge of the Galaxy. Here, we propose NANCY: a completely public, all-sky survey that will create a high-value legacy dataset benefiting innumerable ongoing and forthcoming studies of the universe. NANCY is a pure expression of Roman's potential: it images the entire sky, at high spatial resolution, in a broad infrared bandpass that collects as many photons as possible. The majority of all ongoing astronomical surveys would benefit from incorporating observations of NANCY into their analyses, whether these surveys focus on nearby stars, the Milky Way, near-field cosmology, or the broader universe., Comment: Submitted to the call for white papers for the Roman Core Community Survey (June 16th, 2023), and to the Bulletin of the AAS

The high mass X-ray binary system 4U 0114+65 was observed by Nustar in October 2019, and by XMM-Newton in August 2015. Here we performed spectral and timing analysis of the Nustar observation, and carry out timing analysis on the XMM-Newton data. We measured the spin period of the neutron star from both observations and found a spin-up rate $\dot{p} = 1.54 \pm 0.38 \times 10^{-6} s s^{-1}$. During the Nustar observation two flares occured, one occured shortly after the start of the observation and the other near the end separated by a long period of low/quiescent- state. The large and sudden flares mostly resulted from accretion of Corotating Interaction Region (CIR) material. A common spectral model to HMXBs, powerlaw with high energy cutoff and absorption at low energy, gave a good fit to both flaring and quiescent states. A flourescent iron line was not required in fitting any of the states. On the other hand, very tentative evidence of Cyclotron Resonant Scattering Feature (CRSF) at $\sim$ 17 keV was found during fitting using cyclabs model, however fitting improvement was not significant enough to confirm its detection, plus a very narrow width (< 1 keV) was obtained for the line and its first harmonic. Visual inspection of the spectra showed a deficiency of emission near the expected first and second harmonic. Another important feature visually noticed in the spectra is the presence of hard tail above 50 keV. This could be explained by the shocked material bounding the CIR.

We present a novel natural language processing (NLP) approach to deriving plain English descriptors for science cases otherwise restricted by obfuscating technical terminology. We address the limitations of common radio galaxy morphology classifications by applying this approach. We experimentally derive a set of semantic tags for the Radio Galaxy Zoo EMU (Evolutionary Map of the Universe) project and the wider astronomical community. We collect 8,486 plain English annotations of radio galaxy morphology, from which we derive a taxonomy of tags. The tags are plain English. The result is an extensible framework which is more flexible, more easily communicated, and more sensitive to rare feature combinations which are indescribable using the current framework of radio astronomy classifications., Comment: 17 pages, 11 Figures, Accepted at MNRAS

Galaxy morphology in atomic hydrogen (HI) and in the ultra-violet (UV) are closely linked. This has motivated their combined use to quantify morphology over the full H i disk for both H i and UV imaging. We apply galaxy morphometrics: Concentration, Asymmetry, Gini, M20 and Multimode-Intensity-Deviation statistics to the first moment-0 maps of the WALLABY survey of galaxies in the Hydra cluster center. Taking advantage of this new HI survey, we apply the same morphometrics over the full HI extent on archival GALEX FUV and NUV data to explore how well HI truncated, extended ultraviolet disk (XUV) and other morphological phenomena can be captured using pipeline WALLABY data products. Extended HI and UV disks can be identified relatively straightforward from their respective concentration. Combined with WALLABY HI, even the shallowest GALEX data is sufficient to identify XUV disks. Our second goal is to isolate galaxies undergoing ram-pressure stripping in the H i morphometric space. We employ four different machine learning techniques, a decision tree, a k-nearest neighbour, a support-vector machine, and a random forest. Up to 80% precision and recall are possible with the Random Forest giving the most robust results., Comment: 17 figures, 12 figures, 7 tables, accepted by MNRAS

We propose a non-exotic electromagnetic solution (within the standard model of particle physics) to the cosmological 7Li problem based upon a narrow 2 MeV photo-emission line from the decay of light Glueballs (LGBs). These LGBs form within color superconducting, tens of Fermi in size, quark clusters (SQCs) in the radiation-dominated post-BBN epoch. The mono-chromatic line from the LGB -> gamma+gamma decay reduces Big-Bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) 7Be by 2/3 without affecting other abundances or CMB physics, provided the combined mass of the SQCs is greater than the total baryonic mass in the Universe. Following the LGB emission, the in-SQC Quantum-ChromoDynamics (QCD) vacuum becomes unstable and "leaks" (via quantum tunnelling) into the external space-time (trivial) vacuum inducing a decoupling of SQCs from hadrons. In seeking a solution to the 7Li problem, we uncovered a solution which also addresses the dark energy (DE) and dark matter (DM) problem making these critical problems intertwined in our model. Being colorless, charge neutral, optically thin and transparent to hadrons, SQCs interact only gravitationally making them a viable CDM candidate. The quantum tunnelling of the in-SQC QCD vacuum to the trivial vacuum offers an explanation of DE in our model and allows for a cosmology which evolves into a LambdaCDM universe at low redshift with a possible resolution of the Hubble tension. Our model distinguishes itself by proposing that the QCD vacuum within SQCs possesses the ability to tunnel into the exterior trivial vacuum, resulting in the generation of DE. This implies the possibility that DM and hadrons might represent distinct phases of quark matter within QCD, characterized by different vacuum properties. We discuss SQC formation in heavy-ion collision experiments at moderate temperatures and the possibility of detection of MeV photons from LGB -> gamma+gamma., Comment: To appear in the journal Universe (Cosmology: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1997/10/3/115). Now, 23 journal pages, 5 figures, 4 appendices. Included an appendix titled Pedagogical Framework to provide a didactic description of our idea. We give some details of the LGB -> gamma+gamma decay mode (as well as an estimate the width of the 2 MeV line) and its connection to the electromagnetic trace anomaly

We present the first catalog of supernova remnants (SNRs) in M31 which exhibit diffuse ultraviolet (UV) emission. UV images of M31 were obtained by the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) on the AstroSat satellite, and the list of SNRs was obtained from X-ray, optical and radio catalogues of SNRs in M31. We used the UVIT images to find SNRs with diffuse emission, omitting those too contaminated with stellar emission. 20 SNRs in M31 were detected with diffuse UV emission. Fluxes in the UVIT F148W, F169M, F172M, N219M and N279N filters are measured for these SNRs. The luminosities are compared to those computed from the spectra of seven known UV-emitting SNRs in the Milky Way, the LMC, and the SMC. We find similar spectral shapes between the known and the M31 UV-emitting SNRs. The spectral shapes and the diffuse nature of the emission are good evidence that the UV emissions are dominated by line emissions, like known SNRs, and the UV is associated with the SNRs. Models are applied to the 6 SNRs with X-ray spectra. The main difference is that the 2 X-ray/UV SNRs are Type Ia and the 4 X-ray/non-UV SNRs are core-collapse or unknown type. A comparison of M31 SNRs in different wavebands shows that most are detected optically, similar to the case for other nearby galaxies. 19 of the 20 UV-emitting SNRs are detected optically, expected because both UV and optical are from forbidden and recombination lines from shock-ionized gas., Comment: 17 pages, 7 figures

The bulge of M31 is of interest in the context of the nature of galactic bulges and how their structure relates to bulge formation mechanisms and their subsequent evolution. With the UVIT instrument on AstroSat, we have observed the bulge of M31 in five far ultraviolet (FUV) and near ultraviolet (NUV) filters at 1" spatial resolution. Models for the luminosity distribution of the bulge are constructed using the UVIT data and the galaxy image-fitting algorithm GALFIT. We fit the bulge without nuclear region with a Sersic function the five images and find Sersic indices ($\simeq2.1$ to 2.5) similar to previous studies but smaller $R_e$ values ($\simeq0.5$ to 0.6 kpc). When the images include the nuclear region, a multicomponent model is used to find the best-fit. We use an 8-component fit for the FUV 148nm image, which has the highest sensitivity. The other images (169 to 279 nm) are fit with 4-component models. The dust lanes in the bulge region are recovered in the residual image after subtraction of the bright bulge light using the multicomponent model. The dust lanes show that M31's nuclear spiral is visible in absorption at NUV and FUV wavelengths. The bulge images show boxy contours in all five UVIT wavebands, which is confirmed by fitting using GALFIT. The Sersic indices of $\sim$2.1-2.5 are intermediate between expected values for a classical bulge and for a pseudobulge. The boxiness of the bulge provides further evidence that M31's bulge has contributions from a classical bulge and a pseudobulge., Comment: 27 pages, 7 figures

The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is an object of ongoing study with the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) on AstroSat. UVIT FUV and NUV photometry is carried out here for a set of 239 clusters in the NE disk and bulge of M31 which overlap with the HST/PHAT survey. Padova stellar models were applied to derive ages, masses, metallicities and extinctions for 170 clusters. The ages show a narrow peak at $\sim$4 Myr and a broad peak around 100 Myr. log(Z/Z$_{\odot}$) values are mostly between $-0.3$ and $+0.3$. The 7 clusters in the bulge are low metallicity and high mass. Most clusters are in the spiral arms and have metallicities in the range noted above. The youngest clusters are mostly high metallicity and are concentrated along the brightest parts of the spiral arms. The UVIT FUV and NUV data are sensitive to young stars and detect a new metal rich peak in star formation in the disk at age $\sim4$ Myr., Comment: 19 pages, 10 figures

Hercules X-1/HZ Hercules (Her X-1/HZ Her) is an X-ray binary monitored by multiple X-ray missions since last century. With the abundance of long-term observations, we present a complete set of orbital light-curves of Her X-1/HZ Her during the six states of the 35-day cycle in multiple energy bands. These illustrate in detail the changing light-curve caused by the rotating twisted-tilted accretion disc surrounding the neutron star. The orbital light-curves during Main-High (MH) state are analyzed in 0.05 35-day phase intervals. These show the regular occurrence of pre-eclipse dips which march to earlier orbital phase as 35-day phase increase. From the multi-band light-curves we derive time-average orbital phase dependence of column density for photoelectric absorption and energy-independent transmission as a function of 35-day phase. The X-ray light-curves during Low States are similar in shape to the optical Low State light-curve, but X-ray leads optical by $\simeq$0.04 to 0.08 in orbital phase., Comment: 19 pages, 6 figures

We present an analysis of a new 120 deg$^{2}$ radio continuum image of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) at 888 MHz with a bandwidth of 288 MHz and beam size of $13\rlap{.}^{\prime\prime}9\times12\rlap{.}^{\prime\prime}1$, from the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) processed as part of the Evolutionary Map of the Universe (EMU) survey. The median Root Mean Squared noise is 58 $\mu$Jy beam$^{-1}$. We present a catalogue of 54,612 sources, divided over a GOLD list (30,866 sources) complete down to 0.5 mJy uniformly across the field, a SILVER list (22,080 sources) reaching down to $<$ 0.2 mJy and a BRONZE list (1,666 sources) of visually inspected sources in areas of high noise and/or near bright complex emission. We discuss detections of planetary nebulae and their radio luminosity function, young stellar objects showing a correlation between radio luminosity and gas temperature, novae and X-ray binaries in the LMC, and active stars in the Galactic foreground that may become a significant population below this flux level. We present examples of diffuse emission in the LMC (H II regions, supernova remnants, bubbles) and distant galaxies showcasing spectacular interaction between jets and intracluster medium. Among 14,333 infrared counterparts of the predominantly background radio source population we find that star-forming galaxies become more prominent below 3 mJy compared to active galactic nuclei. We combine the new 888 MHz data with archival Australia Telescope Compact Array data at 1.4 GHz to determine spectral indices; the vast majority display synchrotron emission but flatter spectra occur too. We argue that the most extreme spectral index values are due to variability., Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS

AstroSat has surveyed M31 with the UVIT telescope during 2017 to 2019. The central bulge of M31 was observed in 2750-2850 A, 2000-2400 A, 1600-1850 A, 1450-1750 A, and 1200-1800 A filters. A radial profile analysis, averaged along elliptical contours which approximate the bulge shape, was carried out in each filter. The profiles follow a Sersic function with an excess for the inner 8" in all filters, or can be fit with two Sersic functions (including the excess). The ultraviolet colours of the bulge are found to change systematically with radius, with the center of the bulge bluer (hotter). We fit the UVIT spectral energy distributions (SEDs) for the whole bulge and for 10 elliptical annuli with single stellar population (SSP) models. A combination of two SSPs fits the UVIT SEDs much better than one SSP, and three SSPs fits the data best. The properties of the three SSPs are age, metallicity (Z) and mass of each SSP. The best fit model is a dominant old, metal-poor (10^10 yr, log(Z/Zsun)=-2, with Zsun the solar metallicity) population plus a 15% contribution from an intermediate (10^9.5 yr, log(Z/Zsun)=-2) population plus a small contribution (2%) from a young high-metallicity (10^8.5 yr, log(Z/Zsun)=-0.5) population. The results are consistent with previous studies of M31 in optical: both reveal an active merger history for M31., Comment: 15 pages, 10 figures

The Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) onboard the AstroSat observatory has imaged the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) from 2017 to 2019 in FUV and NUV with the high spatial resolution of ~1". The survey covered the large sky area of M31 with a set of observations (Fields) each 28 arcminutes in diameter. Field 1 was observed in two epochs with the F148W filter, separated by 1133 days (~3.10 years). The 6.4 kpc diameter Field 1 (at the distance of M31) includes a substantial part of the inner spiral arms of the galaxy. We identify UVIT sources in both epochs of Field 1 and obtain catalogs of sources that are variable in FUV at > 3 sigma and > 5 sigma confidence level. The fraction of FUV variable sources is higher for brighter sources, and the fraction is higher in the two main spiral arms compared to other areas. This is evidence that a significant fraction of the FUV variables are associated with hot young stars. Source counterparts are found for 42 of the 86 > 5 sigma FUV variables using existing catalogs. The counterparts include 10 star clusters, 6 HII regions, 5 regular or semiregular variables, 6 other variables and 6 nova or nova candidates. The UVIT FUV-NUV and FUV-FUV color-magnitude diagrams confirm the association of most of the FUV variables with hot young stars. A catalog of UVIT photometry for the variable sources is presented., Comment: 19 pages, 11 figures, 7 tables

We present a new optical sample of three Supernova Remnants and 16 Supernova Remnant (SNR) candidates in the Large Magellanic Cloud(LMC). These objects were originally selected using deep H$\alpha$, [SII] and [OIII] narrow-band imaging. Most of the newly found objects are located in less dense regions, near or around the edges of the LMC's main body. Together with previously suggested MCSNR J0541-6659, we confirm the SNR nature for two additional new objects: MCSNR J0522-6740 and MCSNRJ0542-7104. Spectroscopic follow-up observations for 12 of the LMC objects confirm high [SII]/H$\alpha$ a emission-line ratios ranging from 0.5 to 1.1. We consider the candidate J0509-6402 to be a special example of the remnant of a possible Type Ia Supernova which is situated some 2$^\circ$ ($\sim 1.75$kpc) north from the main body of the LMC. We also find that the SNR candidates in our sample are significantly larger in size than the currently known LMC SNRs by a factor of $\sim 2$. This could potentially imply that we are discovering a previously unknown but predicted, older class of large LMC SNRs that are only visible optically. Finally, we suggest that most of these LMC SNRs are residing in a very rarefied environment towards the end of their evolutionary span where they become less visible to radio and X-ray telescopes., Comment: 24 pages, 25 figures, to appear in MNRAS

An ultraviolet survey of M31 has been carried out during 2017-19 with the UVIT instrument onboard the AstroSat Observatory. Here we match the M31 UVIT source catalog (Leahy et al. 2020) with the Chandra source catalog (Vulic et al. 2016). We find 67 UVIT/Chandra sources detected in a varying number of UV and X-ray bands. The UV and X-ray photometry is analyzed using powerlaw and blackbody models. The X-ray types include 15 LMXBs and 5 AGNs. Cross-matches with catalogs of stars, clusters and other source types yield the following. 20 of the UVIT/Chandra sources match with M31 globular clusters and 9 with foreground stars. 3 more globular clusters and 2 more foreground stars are consistent with the UVIT source positions although outside the Chandra match radius of 1 arcsec. The UV emission of the UVIT/Chandra sources associated with globular clusters is consistent with emission from blue horizontal branch stars rather than from the X-ray source. The LMXBs in globular clusters are among the most luminous globular clusters in M31.Comparison with stellar evolutionary tracks shows that the UVIT/Chandra sources with high UV blackbody temperatures are consistent with massive (10 to 30 M$_{\odot}$) stars in M31., Comment: 31 pages, 9 figures, 2 tables

Swift/BAT and RXTE/ASM observations have monitored the X-ray binary system Her X-1 for approximately 14.5 years each, and both were monitoring Her X-1 for a period of ~5.5 years. Here we study the 35-day cycle using these observations. Using a cross-correlation method we find the times of peaks of the 35-day cycles for ~150 cycles observed by Swift/BAT and ~150 cycles observed by RXTE/ASM. These cycles include ~60 observed with both instruments. The noise level of the RXTE/ASM measurements is larger than that of Swift/BAT, resulting in larger uncertainty in peak times. The distribution of 35-day cycle lengths can be fit with a Gaussian with mean 34.79 d and $\sigma$ of 1.1 d. The distribution of orbital phases of 35-day cycle peaks is well fit by a uniform distribution, with 76 percent of the cycles, plus a Gaussian distribution peaked at orbital phase ~0.5, with 24 percent of the cycles. We construct the long-term average 35-day lightcurve in the 15-50 keV band from Swift/BAT, and in the 2-12 keV band from RXTE/ASM. The high energy band shows more variability in the Short High state and the low energy band shows more variability in the Main High state. This is consistent with a precessing accretion disk model as cause of the 35-day cycle., Comment: 18 pages, 9 figures, 4 tables

We show that old isolated neutron stars in groups and clusters of galaxies experiencing a Quark-Nova phase (QN: an explosive transition to a quark star) may be the source of FRBs. Each of the millions of fragments of the ultra-relativistic QN ejecta provides a collisionless plasma for which the ambient medium (galactic/halo, the intra-group/intra-cluster medium) acts as a relativistic plasma beam. The Buneman and the Weibel instabilities, successively induced by the beam in the fragment, generate particle bunching and observed coherent emission at GHz frequency with a corresponding fluence in the Jy ms range. The duration, frequency drift and the rate are in agreement with observed properties of FRBs. Repeats (on timescales of minutes to months) are due to seeing multiple fragments each beaming at a different direction and coming in at different times. Single (non-repeating) FRBs, occur when only emission from the primary fragment is within the detector's sensitivity. Key properties of FRB 121102 (its years of activity) and of FRB 180916.J0158+65 (its 16 day period) are recovered. The spatial and temporal coincidence between SGR 1935+2154 and FRB 200428 finds an explanation in our model. We give testable predictions., Comment: MNRAS version (see https://academic.oup.com/mnras/article-abstract/500/4/4414/5979827?redirectedFrom=PDF). Converted to a main paper (first 9 pages) + supplementary material [a total of 50 pages including 16 tables and 11 figures]. The QN FRB simulator can be run online at: http://www.quarknova.ca/FRBSimulator/

We present 1 to 10GHz radio continuum flux density, spectral index, polarisation and Rotation Measure (RM) images of the youngest known Galactic Supernova Remnant (SNR) G1.9+0.3, using observations from the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA). We have conducted an expansion study spanning 8 epochs between 1984 and 2017, yielding results consistent with previous expansion studies of G1.9+0.3. We find a mean radio continuum expansion rate of ($0.78 \pm 0.09$) per cent year$^{-1}$ (or $\sim8900$ km s$^{-1}$ at an assumed distance of 8.5 kpc), although the expansion rate varies across the SNR perimeter. In the case of the most recent epoch between 2016 and 2017, we observe faster-than-expected expansion of the northern region. We find a global spectral index for G1.9+0.3 of $-0.81\pm0.02$ (76 MHz$-$10 GHz). Towards the northern region, however, the radio spectrum is observed to steepen significantly ($\sim -$1). Towards the two so called (east & west) "ears" of G1.9+0.3, we find very different RM values of 400-600 rad m$^{2}$ and 100-200 rad m$^{2}$ respectively. The fractional polarisation of the radio continuum emission reaches (19 $\pm$ 2)~per~cent, consistent with other, slightly older, SNRs such as Cas~A., Comment: 17 Pages, 13 Figures

We have detected 27 new supernova remnants (SNRs) using a new data release of the GLEAM survey from the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) telescope, including the lowest surface-brightness SNR ever detected, G0.1-9.7. Our method uses spectral fitting to the radio continuum to derive spectral indices for 26/27 candidates, and our low-frequency observations probe a steeper-spectrum population than previously discovered. None of the candidates have coincident Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer mid-IR emission, further showing that the emission is non-thermal. Using pulsar associations we derive physical properties for six candidate SNRs, finding G0.1-9.7 may be younger than 10kyr. 60% of the candidates subtend areas larger than 0.2deg$^{2}$ on the sky, compared to $<25$% of previously-detected SNRs. We also make the first detection of two SNRs in the Galactic longitude range $220^\circ-240^\circ$., Comment: 34 pages, 83 figures, 2 tables, accepted to PASA

We examined the latest data release from the GaLactic and Extragalactic All-sky Murchison Widefield Array (GLEAM) survey covering $345^\circ < l < 60^\circ$, $180^\circ < l < 240^\circ$, using these data and that of the Widefield Infrared Survey Explorer to follow up proposed candidate Supernova Remnants from other sources. Of the 101 candidates proposed in the region, we are able to definitively confirm ten as SNRs, tentatively confirm two as SNRs, and reclassify five as Hii regions. A further two are detectable in our images but difficult to classify; the remaining 82 are undetectable in these data. We also investigated the 18 unclassified Multi-Array Galactic Plane Imaging Survey (MAGPIS) candidate SNRs, newly confirming three as SNRs, reclassifying two as Hii regions, and exploring the unusual spectra and morphology of two others., Comment: 39 pages, 60 figures, 2 tables, accepted to PASA

A multipole expansion analysis is applied to 1420 MHz radio continuum images of supernova remnants (SNRs) in order to compare Type Ia and core collapse (CC) SNRs. Because the radio synchrotron emission is produced at the outer shock between the SNR and the ISM, we are investigating whether the ISM interaction of SNRs is different between Type Ia and CC SNRs. This is in contrast to previous investigations, which have shown that Type Ia and CC SNRs have different asymmetries in the X-ray emission from their ejecta. The sample consists of 19 SNRs which have been classified as either Type Ia or CC. The quadrupole and octupole moments normalized to their monopole moments (total emission) are used as a measure of asymmetry of the emission. A broad range (by a factor of ~1000) is found for both quadrupole and octupole normalized moments. The strongest correlation we find is that large quadrupole moments are associated with large octupole moments, indicating that both serve as similar indicators of asymmetry. The other correlation we find is that both moments increase with SNR age or radius. This indicates that interstellar medium structure is a strong contributor to asymmetries in the radio emission from SNRs. This does not seem to apply to molecular clouds, because we find that association of a SNR with a molecular cloud is not correlated with larger quadrupole or octupole moments., Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures

[Abridged] By appealing to a Quark-Nova (QN; the explosive transition of a neutron star to a quark star) in the wake of a core-collapse Supernova explosion of a massive star, we develop a unified model for long duration Gamma-ray Bursts (LGRBs) and Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs). The time delay (years to decades) between the SN and the QN and, the fragmented nature (i.e. millions of chunks) of the relativistic QN ejecta are key to yielding a robust LGRB engine. In our model, a LGRB light-curve exhibits the interaction of the fragmented QN ejecta with a turbulent (i.e. filamentary and magnetically saturated) SN ejecta which is shaped by its interaction with an underlying pulsar wind nebula (PWN). The afterglow is due to the interaction of the QN chunks, exiting the SN ejecta, with the surrounding medium. Our model can fit BAT/XRT prompt and afterglow light-curves, simultaneously with their spectra, thus yielding the observed properties of LGRBs (e.g. the Band function and the X-ray flares). We find that the Yonetoku law and the Amati law are not fundamental but phenomenological. FRBs result from coherent synchrotron emission when the QN chunks interact with non-turbulent weakly magnetized PWN-SN ejecta, where conditions are prone to the Weibel instability. Magnetic field amplification induced by the Weibel instability sets the bunching length for electrons and pairs to radiate coherently. The resulting emission frequency, luminosity, duration and dispersion measure in our model are consistent with FRB data. We find a natural unification of high-energy burst phenomena from FRBs to LGRBs including X-ray Flashes and X-ray rich GRBs as well as Super-Luminous SNe. We find a possible connection between Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays and FRBs and propose that a QN following a binary neutron star merger can yield a short GRB (SGRB) with fits to BAT/XRT light-curves., Comment: 91 pages (includes 4 tables and 28 figures). Accepted for publication in RAA

We have observed the G23 field of the Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA) survey using the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) in its commissioning phase, to validate the performance of the telescope and to characterize the detected galaxy populations. This observation covers $\sim$48 deg$^2$ with synthesized beam of 32.7$^{\prime\prime}$ by 17.8$^{\prime\prime}$ at 936 MHz, and $\sim$39 deg$^2$ with synthesized beam of 15.8$^{\prime\prime}$ by 12.0$^{\prime\prime}$ at 1320 MHz. At both frequencies, the r.m.s. (root-mean-square) noise is $\sim$0.1 mJy/beam. We combine these radio observations with the GAMA galaxy data, which includes spectroscopy of galaxies that are i-band selected with a magnitude limit of 19.2. Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) infrared (IR) photometry is used to determine which galaxies host an active galactic nucleus (AGN). In properties including source counts, mass distributions, and IR vs. radio luminosity relation, the ASKAP detected radio sources behave as expected. Radio galaxies have higher stellar mass and luminosity in IR, optical and UV than other galaxies. We apply optical and IR AGN diagnostics and find that they disagree for $\sim$30% of the galaxies in our sample. We suggest possible causes for the disagreement. Some cases can be explained by optical extinction of the AGN, but for more than half of the cases we do not find a clear explanation. Radio sources are more likely ($\sim$6%) to have an AGN than radio quiet galaxies ($\sim$1%), but the majority of AGN are not detected in radio at this sensitivity., Comment: 26 pages, 22 figures, 6 tables. Accepted for publication in Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia

This white paper is motivated by open questions in star formation, which can be uniquely addressed by high resolution X-ray imaging and require an X-ray observatory with large collecting area along good spectral resolution. A complete census of star-forming regions in X-rays, combined with well matched infrared (IR) data, will advance our understanding of disk survival times and dissipation mechanisms. In addition, we will be able to directly observe the effects of X-ray irradiation on circumstellar grain growth to compare with grain evolution models in both high- and low-UV environments. X-rays are native to stars at all phases of star formation and affect planet-forming disks especially through flares. Moreover, X-rays trace magnetic fields which weave through the flares, providing a unique, non-gravitational feedback mechanism between disk and star. Finally, the bright X-ray emission emanating from hot plasma associated with massive stars can have large scale impacts on the topology of star-forming regions and their interface with the interstellar medium (ISM)., Comment: Astro2020 Science White Paper, 3 figures

Supernova remnants (SNRs) offer the means to study SN explosions, dynamics, and shocks at sub-parsec scales. X-ray observations probe the hot metals synthesized in the explosion and the TeV electrons accelerated by the shocks, and thus they are key to test recent, high-fidelity three-dimensional SN simulations. In this white paper, we discuss the major advances possible with X-ray spectro-imaging at arcsecond scales, with a few eV spectral resolution and a large effective area. These capabilities would revolutionize SN science, offering a three-dimensional view of metals synthesized in explosions and enabling population studies of SNRs in Local Group galaxies. Moreover, this future X-ray mission could detect faint, narrow synchrotron filaments and shock precursors that will constrain the diffusive shock acceleration process., Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, Astro2020 Science White Paper

A freely available Python code for modelling SNR evolution has been created. This software is intended for two purposes: to understand SNR evolution; and to use in modelling observations of SNR for obtaining good estimates of SNR properties. It includes all phases for the standard path of evolution for spherically symmetric SNRs. In addition, alternate evolutionary models are available, including evolution in a cloudy ISM, the fractional energy loss model, and evolution in a hot low-density ISM. The graphical interface takes in various parameters and produces outputs such as shock radius and velocity vs. time, SNR surface brightness profile and spectrum. Some interesting properties of SNR evolution are demonstrated using the program., Comment: 35 pages, 8 figures, 1 table

We show that a Quark-Nova (QN; the explosive transition of a neutron star to a quark star) occurring a few days following the supernova explosion of an Oxygen-type Wolf-Rayet (WO) star can account for the intriguing features of ASASSN-15lh, including its extreme energetics, its double-peaked light-curve and the evolution of its photospheric radius and temperature. A two-component configuration of the homologously expanding WO remnant (an extended envelope and a compact core) is used to harness the kinetic energy (>10^52 ergs) of the QN ejecta. The delay between the WO SN and the QN yields a large (~ 10^4 Rsun) envelope which when energized by the QN ejecta/shock gives the first peak in our model. As the envelope's photosphere recedes into the slowly expanding, hot and insulated, denser core (initially heated by the QN shock) a second hump emerges. The spectrum in our model should reflect the composition of an WO SN remnant re-heated by a QN going off in its wake., Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, 1 table

Here is considered the full evolution of a spherical supernova remnant. We start by calculating the early time ejecta dominated stage and continue through the different phases of interaction with the circumstellar medium, and end with the dissipation and merger phase. The physical connection between the phases reveals new results. One is that the blast wave radius during the adiabatic phase is significantly smaller than it would be, if one does notaccount for the blast wave interaction with the ejecta., Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, proceedings for: Supernova Remnants: An Odyssey in Space after Stellar death

The set of supernova remnants (SNR) from Green's SNR catalog which are found in the VLA Galactic Plane Survey (VGPS) are the objects considered in this study. For these SNR, we extract and analyse HI absorption spectra in a uniform way and construct a catalogue of absorption spectra and distance determinations., Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, conference proceedings paper for the meeting: Supernova Remnants: An Odyssey in Space after Stellar death

The explosive transition of a massive neutron star to a quark star (the Quark-Nova, QN) releases in excess of ~ 10^52 erg in kinetic energy which can drastically impact the surrounding environment of the QN. A QN is triggered when a neutron star gains enough mass to reach the critical value for quark deconfinement to happen in the core. In binaries, a neutron star has access to mass reservoirs (e.g. accretion from a companion or from a Common Envelope, CE). We explain observed light-curves of hydrogen-poor superluminous Supernovae (SLSNe Ia) in the context of a QN occurring in the second CE phase of a massive binary. In particular this model gives good fits to light-curves of SLSNe with double-humped light-curves. Our model suggests the QN as a mechanism for CE ejection and that they be taken into account during binary evolution. In a short period binary with a white dwarf companion, the neutron star can quickly grow in mass and experience a QN event. Part of the QN ejecta collides with the white dwarf, shocking, compressing, and heating it to driving a thermonuclear runaway producing a SN Ia impostor (a QN-Ia). Unlike "normal" Type Ia supernovae where no compact remnant is formed, a QN-Ia produces a quark star undergoing rapid spin-down providing additional power along with the 56Ni decay energy. Type Ia SNe are used as standard candles and contamination of this data by QNe-Ia can infer an incorrect cosmology., Comment: 6 pages, 1 figures, BN3 talk presented at the Marcel Grossmann Meeting (MG14), Rome, July 2015

Quark-novae leave behind quark stars with a surrounding metal-rich fall-back (ring-like) material. These compact remnants have high magnetic fields and are misconstrued as magnetars; however, several observational features allow us to distinguish a quark star (left behind by a quark-nova) from a neutron star with high magnetic field. In our model, bursting activity is expected from intermittent accretion events from the surrounding fall-back debris leading to X-ray bursts (in the case of a Keplerian ring) or gamma ray bursts (in the case of a co-rotating shell). The details of the spectra are described by a constant background X-ray luminosity from the expulsion of magnetic flux tubes which will be temporarily buried by bursting events caused by accretion of material onto the quark star surface. These accretion events emit high energy photons and heat up the quark star and surrounding debris leading to hot spots which may be observable as distinct blackbodies. Additionally, we explain observed spectral line features as atomic lines from r-process material and explain an observed anti-glitch in an AXP as the transfer of angular momentum from a surrounding Keplerian disk to the quark star., Comment: 6 pages, NS1 talk presented at the Marcel Grossmann Meeting (MG14), Rome, July 2015

A Quark-Nova (QN, the sudden transition from a neutron star into a quark star) which occurs in the second common envelope (CE) phase of a massive binary (Ouyed et al., 2015a&b), gives excellent fits to super-luminous, hydrogen-poor, Supernovae (SLSNe) with double-peaked light curves including DES13S2cmm, SN 2006oz and LSQ14bdq (http://www.quarknova.ca/LCGallery.html). In our model, the H envelope of the less massive companion is ejected during the first CE phase while the QN occurs deep inside the second, He-rich, CE phase after the CE has expanded in size to a radius of a few tens to a few thousands solar radii, this yields the first peak in our model. The ensuing merging of the quark star with the CO core leads to black hole formation and accretion explaining the second long-lasting peak. We study a sample of 8 SLSNe Ic with double-humped light-curves. Our model provides good fits to all of these with a universal explosive energy of 2x10^52 erg (which is the kinetic energy of the QN ejecta) for the first hump. The late-time emissions seen in iPTF13ehe and LSQ14bdq are fit with a shock interaction between the outgoing He-rich (i.e second) CE and the previously ejected H-rich (i.e first) CE., Comment: Accepted for Publication in ApJ, 7 pages, 2 figures, 3 tables (Original: 4 pages, 1 figure, 1 table), New title, Model applied successfully to 6 more double-peaked SLSNe. Related papers: arXiv:1505.05764 and arXiv:1502.06892 . See http://www.quarknova.ca/LCGallery.html for more QN fits to other double-humped SLSNe