W. M. Wood‐Vasey
A5014714070- Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae
- Astronomy and Astrophysical Research
- Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
- Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena
- Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena
- Astrophysical Phenomena and Observations
- Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research
- Astronomical Observations and Instrumentation
- Astro and Planetary Science
- Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing
- Cosmology and Gravitation Theories
- Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics
- Astrophysics and Star Formation Studies
- Geophysics and Gravity Measurements
- Neutrino Physics Research
- Planetary Science and Exploration
- Calibration and Measurement Techniques
- Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics
- CCD and CMOS Imaging Sensors
- Scientific Research and Discoveries
- SAS software applications and methods
- Laser-Plasma Interactions and Diagnostics
- History and Developments in Astronomy
- Particle Detector Development and Performance
- Laser-induced spectroscopy and plasma
University of Pittsburgh
2014-2024
Association of Universities For Research In Astronomy
2006-2018
U.S. National Science Foundation
2006-2018
Kitt Peak National Observatory
2018
Center for Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian
2005-2014
Pittsburg State University
2011
Harvard University Press
2008-2009
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
1996-2009
Harvard University
2005-2008
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
2002-2007
We present cosmological results from the final galaxy clustering data set of Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey, part Sloan Digital Sky Survey III. Our combined sample comprises 1.2 million massive galaxies over an effective area 9329 deg^2 and volume 18.7 Gpc^3, divided into three partially overlapping redshift slices centred at redshifts 0.38, 0.51, 0.61. measure angular diameter distance DM Hubble parameter H baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) method after applying reconstruction to...
We present optical light curves, redshifts, and classifications for 365 spectroscopically confirmed Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) discovered by the Pan-STARRS1 (PS1) Medium Deep Survey. detail improvements to PS1 SN photometry, astrometry calibration that reduce systematic uncertainties in distances. combine subset of 279 ($0.03 < z 0.68$) with useful distance estimates from SDSS, SNLS, various low-z HST samples form largest combined sample consisting a total 1048 ranging $0.01 2.3$, which we...
We report measurements of ΩM, ΩΛ, and w from 11 supernovae (SNe) at z = 0.36-0.86 with high-quality light curves measured using WFPC2 on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). This is an independent set high-redshift SNe that confirms previous SN evidence for accelerating universe. The available photometry make it possible these alone to provide cosmological parameters comparable in statistical weight results. Combined earlier Supernova Cosmology Project data, new yield a measurement mass density...
We present a new compilation of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia), dataset low-redshift nearby-Hubble-flow SNe and analysis procedures to work with these heterogeneous compilations. This ``Union'' 414 SN Ia, which reduces 307 after selection cuts, includes the recent large samples from Supernova Legacy Survey ESSENCE Survey, older datasets, as well recently extended distant observed HST. A single, consistent blind procedure is used for all various subsamples, implemented that consistently weights...
We report on work to increase the number of well-measured Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) at high redshifts. Light curves, including signal-to-noise Hubble Space Telescope data, and spectra six SNe that were discovered during 2001, are presented. Additionally, for two with z > 1, we present ground-based J-band photometry from Gemini Very Large Telescope. These among most distant which near-IR observations have been obtained. add these together other data sets recently become available in...
We present constraints on the dark energy equation-of-state parameter, w=P/(rho c^2), using 60 Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) from ESSENCE supernova survey. derive a set of nature assuming flat Universe. By including (Omega_M, w) baryon acoustic oscillations, we obtain value for static parameter w=-1.05^{+0.13}_{-0.12} (stat; 1 sigma) +- 0.11 (sys) and Omega_M=0.274^{+0.033}_{-0.020} with best-fit chi^2/DoF 0.96. These results are consistent those reported by SuperNova Legacy Survey in similar...
We combine the CfA3 supernovae Type Ia (SN Ia) sample with samples from literature to calculate improved constraints on dark energy equation of state parameter, w. The is added Union set Kowalski et al. form Constitution and, combined a BAO prior, produces 1 + w = 0.013+0.066−0.068 (0.11 syst), consistent cosmological constant. addition makes cosmologically useful nearby SN between 2.6 and 2.9 times larger than before, reducing statistical uncertainty point where systematics play largest...
We derive constraints on cosmological parameters and tests of dark energy models from the combination baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) measurements with cosmic microwave background (CMB) Type Ia supernova (SN) data. take advantage high-precision BAO galaxy clustering Ly-alpha forest (LyaF) in BOSS survey SDSS-III. data alone yield a high confidence detection energy, CMB angular scale they further imply nearly flat universe. Combining SN into an "inverse distance ladder" yields 1.7%...
The first cosmological results from the ESSENCE supernova survey (Wood-Vasey and coworkers) are extended to a wider range of models including dynamical dark energy nonstandard models. We fold in greater number external data sets such as recent Higher-z release high-redshift supernovae (Riess coworkers), well several complementary probes. Model comparison statistics Bayesian Akaike information criteria applied gauge worth These favor that give good fit with fewer parameters. Based on this...
(abridged) We describe the automated spectral classification, redshift determination, and parameter measurement pipeline in use for Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) of Sloan Digital Sky III (SDSS-III) as Data Release 9, encompassing 831,000 moderate-resolution optical spectra. give a review algorithms employed, changes to that have been implemented BOSS relative previous SDSS-I/II versions, including new sets stellar, galaxy, quasar templates. For color-selected CMASS sample...
We present multiband photometry of 185 type-Ia supernovae (SNe Ia), with over 11,500 observations. These were acquired between 2001 and 2008 at the F. L. Whipple Observatory Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA). This sample contains largest number homogeneously observed reduced nearby SNe Ia (z ≲ 0.08) published to date. It more than doubles sample, bringing SN cosmology point where systematic uncertainties dominate. Our natural system has a precision ≲0.02 mag in BVRIr'i' ≲0.04...
The conditions for validity and the limitations of experiments intended to simulate astrophysical hydrodynamics are discussed, with application some ongoing experiments. For systems adequately described by Euler equations, similarity criteria required properly scaled identified. applicability equations formulated, based on analysis localization, heat conduction, viscosity, radiation. Other considerations involved in such a scaling, including its at small spatial scales, discussed. results...
The SDSS-III/APOGEE survey operated from 2011-2014 using the APOGEE spectrograph, which collects high-resolution (R~22,500), near-IR (1.51-1.70 microns) spectra with a multiplexing (300 fiber-fed objects) capability. We describe data products that are publicly available, include catalogs radial velocity, stellar parameters, and 15 elemental abundances for over 150,000 stars, as well more than 500,000 these quantities derived. Calibration relations parameters (Teff, log g, [M/H], [alpha/M])...
We present the Data Release 9 Quasar (DR9Q) catalog from Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) of Sloan Digital Sky III. The includes all BOSS objects that were targeted as quasar candidates during survey, are spectrocopically confirmed quasars via visual inspection, have luminosities Mi[z=2]<-20.5 (in a $\Lambda$CDM cosmology with H0 = 70 km/s/Mpc, $\Omega_{\rm M}$ 0.3, and $\Omega_{\Lambda}$ 0.7) either display at least one emission line full width half maximum (FWHM) larger than...
We present the Data Release 10 Quasar (DR10Q) catalog from Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) of Sloan Digital Sky III. The includes all BOSS objects that were targeted as quasar candidates during first 2.5 years survey and are confirmed quasars via visual inspection spectra. also known (mostly SDSS-I II) reobserved by BOSS. contains 166,583 (74,454 new discoveries since SDSS-DR9) detected over 6,373 deg$^{2}$ with robust identification redshift measured a combination principal...
We present griz light curves of 146 spectroscopically confirmed Type Ia Supernovae ($0.03 < z <0.65$) discovered during the first 1.5 years Pan-STARRS1 Medium Deep Survey. The natural photometric system is determined by a combination on-site measurements instrument response function and observations spectrophotometric standard stars. find that systematic uncertainties in are currently 1.2\% without accounting for uncertainty HST Calspec definition AB system. A Hubble diagram constructed with...
The SDSS-III Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS), a five-year spectroscopic survey of 10,000 deg^2, achieved first light in late 2009. One the key goals BOSS is to measure signature baryon acoustic oscillations distribution Ly-alpha absorption from spectra sample ~150,000 z>2.2 quasars. Along with measuring angular diameter distance at z\approx2.5, will provide direct measurement expansion rate Universe z > 2. biggest challenges achieving this goal an efficient target selection...
The Nearby Supernova Factory (<i>Snfactory</i>) is an international experiment designed to lay the foundation for next generation of cosmology experiments (such as <i>CFHTLS</i>, <i>w</i>P, <i>SNAP</i> and <i>LSST</i>) which will measure expansion history Universe using Type Ia supernovae. <i>Snfactory</i> discover obtain frequent lightcurve spectrophotometry covering 3200-10000Å roughly 300 supernovae at low-redshift end smooth Hubble flow. quantity, quality, breadth galactic...
The localization of the short-duration, hard-spectrum GRB 050509b was a watershed event. Thanks to nearly immediate relay position by Swift, we began imaging field 8 minutes after burst and continued for following days. No convincing optical/infrared candidate afterglow or supernova found object. We present re-analysis XRT find an absolute that is ~4" west reported previously. Close this bright elliptical galaxy with redshift z=0.2248, about 1' from center rich cluster galaxies. Based on...
We describe the implementation and optimization of ESSENCE supernova survey, which we have undertaken to measure equation state parameter dark energy. present a method for optimizing survey exposure times cadence maximize our sensitivity energy w=P/rho c^2 given fixed amount telescope time. For on CTIO 4m telescope, measuring luminosity distances redshifts supernovae at modest (z~0.5 +- 0.2) is optimal determining w. data analysis pipeline based using reliable robust image subtraction find...
We present extensive early photometric (ultraviolet through near-infrared) and spectroscopic (optical data on supernova (SN) 2008D as well X-ray analysis the associated Swift transient (XRT) 080109. Our span a time range of 5 hr before detection to 150 days after its detection, detailed allowed us derive constraints nature SN progenitor; throughout we draw comparisons with results presented in literature find several key aspects that differ. show spectrum XRT 080109 can be fit equally by an...
We present multi-band optical photometry of 94 spectroscopically confirmed Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) in the redshift range 0.0055–0.073, obtained between 2006 and 2011. There are a total 5522 light-curve points. show that our natural-system SN has precision ≲ 0.03 mag BVr'i', 0.06 u', 0.07 U for points brighter than 17.5 estimate it systematic uncertainty 0.014, 0.010, 0.012, 0.046, 0.073 BVr'i'u'U, respectively. Comparisons standard-system with published light curves comparison stars...
We present the discovery of two ultra-luminous supernovae (SNe) at z ~ 0.9 with Pan-STARRS1 Medium-Deep Survey. These SNe, PS1-10ky and PS1-10awh, are amongst most luminous SNe ever discovered, comparable to unusual transients SN 2005ap SCP 06F6. Like 06F6, they show characteristic high luminosities (M_bol -22.5 mag), blue spectra a few broad absorption lines, no evidence for H or He. have constructed full multi-color light curve sensitive peak spectral energy distribution in rest-frame...