@article {2014ApJ...792...38P, title = {{Constraints on the Progenitor System and the Environs of SN 2014J from Deep Radio Observations}}, journal = {The Astrophysical Journal}, volume = {792}, year = {2014}, pages = {38}, abstract = {We report deep EVN and eMERLIN observations of the Type Ia SN 2014J in the nearby galaxy M82. Our observations represent, together with JVLA observations of SNe 2011fe and 2014J, the most sensitive radio studies of Type Ia SNe ever. By combining data and a proper modeling of the radio emission, we constrain the mass-loss rate from the progenitor system of SN 2014J to $\backslash$dot$\{$M$\}$ $\backslash$lesssim 7.0$\backslash$times 10\^{}$\{$-10$\}$ $\{$$\backslash$,$\{$M\_$\{$$\backslash$odot $\}$ $\backslash$,yr\^{}$\{$-1$\}$$\}$$\}$ (for a wind speed of 100 km s$^{-1}$). If the medium around the supernova is uniform, then n $_{ISM}$ {\l}t}\~{} 1.3 cm$^{-3}$, which is the most stringent limit for the (uniform) density around a Type Ia SN. Our deep upper limits favor a double-degenerate (DD) scenario{\mdash}involving two WD stars{\mdash}for the progenitor system of SN 2014J, as such systems have less circumstellar gas than our upper limits. By contrast, most single-degenerate (SD) scenarios, i.e., the wide family of progenitor systems where a red giant, main-sequence, or sub-giant star donates mass to an exploding WD, are ruled out by our observations. (While completing our work, we noticed that a paper by Margutti et al. was submitted to The Astrophysical Journal. From a non-detection of X-ray emission from SN 2014J, the authors obtain limits of $\backslash$dot$\{$M$\}$ $\backslash$lesssim 1.2 $\backslash$times 10\^{}$\{$-9$\}$ M $_{\&sun;}$ yr$^{-1}$ (for a wind speed of 100 km s$^{-1}$) and n $_{ISM}$ {\l}t}\~{} 3.5 cm$^{-3}$, for the {$\rho$}vpropr $^{-2}$ wind and constant density cases, respectively. As these limits are less constraining than ours, the findings by Margutti et al. do not alter our conclusions. The X-ray results are, however, important to rule out free-free and synchrotron self-absorption as a reason for the radio non-detections.) Our estimates on the limits on the gas density surrounding SN2011fe, using the flux density limits from Chomiuk et al., agree well with their results. Although we discuss the possibilities of an SD scenario passing observational tests, as well as uncertainties in the modeling of the radio emission, the evidence from SNe 2011fe and 2014J points in the direction of a DD scenario for both.}, keywords = {stars: mass-loss, supernovae: individual: SN2011fe SN2014J}, doi = {10.1088/0004-637X/792/1/38}, url = {http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2014ApJ...792...38P}, author = {M. A. P{\'e}rez-Torres and Lundqvist, P. and Beswick, R.~J. and Bj{\"o}rnsson, C.~I. and Muxlow, T.~W.~B. and Paragi, Z. and Ryder, S. and Alberdi, A. and Fransson, C. and Marcaide, J.~M. and Mart{\'\i}-Vidal, I. and Ros, E. and Argo, M.~K. and Guirado, J.~C.} } @article {2011A\&A...533C...1M, title = {{Coherence loss in phase-referenced VLBI observations (Corrigendum)}}, journal = {Astronomy and Astrophysics}, volume = {533}, year = {2011}, month = {sep}, pages = {C1}, abstract = {We report an erratum in an equation that models the relation of the limiting dynamic range to the angular distance between target and calibrator.}, keywords = {addenda, atmospheric effects, errata, instrumentation: interferometers, techniques: interferometric}, doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/201014203e}, url = {http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2011A\%26A...533C...1M}, author = {Mart{\'\i}-Vidal, I. and Ros, E. and M. A. P{\'e}rez-Torres and Guirado, J.~C. and Jim{\'e}nez-Monferrer, S. and Marcaide, J.~M.} } @article {2010A\&A...515A..53M, title = {{Coherence loss in phase-referenced VLBI observations}}, journal = {Astronomy and Astrophysics}, volume = {515}, year = {2010}, month = {jun}, pages = {A53}, abstract = {Context. Phase-referencing is a standard calibration technique in radio interferometry, particularly suited for the detection of weak sources close to the sensitivity limits of the interferometers. However, effects from a changing atmosphere and inaccuracies in the correlator model may affect the phase-referenced images, and lead to wrong estimates of source flux densities and positions. A systematic observational study of signal decoherence in phase-referencing and its effects in the image plane has not been performed yet.
Aims: We systematically studied how the signal coherence in Very-Long-Baseline-Interferometry (VLBI) observations is affected by a phase-reference calibration at different frequencies and for different calibrator-to-target separations. The results obtained should be of interest for a correct interpretation of many phase-referenced observations with VLBI.
Methods: We observed a set of 13 strong sources (the S5 polar cap sample) at 8.4 and 15 GHz in phase-reference mode with 32 different calibrator/target combinations spanning angular separations between 1.5 and 20.5 degrees. We obtained phase-referenced images and studied how the dynamic range and peak flux-density depend on observing frequency and source separation.
Results: We obtained dynamic ranges and peak flux densities of the phase-referenced images as a function of frequency and separation from the calibrator. We compared our results with models and phenomenological equations previously reported.
Conclusions: The dynamic range of the phase-referenced images is strongly limited by the atmosphere at all frequencies and for all source separations. The limiting dynamic range is inversely proportional to the sine of the calibrator-to-target separation. Not surpriseingly, we also find that the peak flux densities decrease with source separation, relative to those obtained from the self-calibrated images.}, keywords = {atmospheric effects, instrumentation: interferometers, techniques: interferometric}, doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/201014203}, url = {http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2010A\%26A...515A..53M}, author = {Mart{\'\i}-Vidal, I. and Ros, E. and M. A. P{\'e}rez-Torres and Guirado, J.~C. and Jim{\'e}nez-Monferrer, S. and Marcaide, J.~M.} }