• SHABNAM IYYANI

      Articles written in Journal of Astrophysics and Astronomy

    • Explosive and Radio-Selected Transients: Transient Astronomy with Square Kilometre Array and its Precursors

      Poonam Chandra G. C. Anupama K. G. Arun Shabnam Iyyani Kuntal Misra D. Narasimha Alak Ray L. Resmi Subhashis Roy Firoza Sutaria

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      With the high sensitivity and wide-field coverage of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), large samples of explosive transients are expected to be discovered. Radio wavelengths, especially in commensal survey mode, are particularly well-suited for uncovering the complex transient phenomena. This is because observations at radio wavelengths may suffer less obscuration than in other bands (e.g. optical/IR or X-rays) due to dust absorption. At the same time, multiwaveband information often provides critical source classification rapidly than possible with only radio band data. Therefore, multiwaveband observational efforts with wide fields of view will be the key to progress of transients astronomy from the middle 2020s offering unprecedented deep images and high spatial and spectral resolutions. Radio observations of Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) with SKA will uncover not only much fainter bursts and verifying claims of sensitivity-limited population versus intrinsically dim GRBs, they will also unravel the enigmatic population of orphan afterglows. The supernova rate problem caused by dust extinction in optical bands is expected to be lifted in the SKA era. In addition, the debate of single degenerate scenario versus double degenerate scenario will be put to rest for the progenitors of thermonuclear supernovae, since highly sensitive measurements will lead to very accurate mass loss estimation in these supernovae. One also expects to detect gravitationally lensed supernovae in far away Universe in the SKA bands. Radio counterparts of the gravitational waves are likely to become a reality once SKA comes online. In addition, SKA is likely to discover various new kinds of transients.

    • Sub-MeV spectroscopy with AstroSat-CZT imager for gamma ray bursts

      TANMOY CHATTOPADHYAY SOUMYA GUPTA VIDUSHI SHARMA SHABNAM IYYANI AJAY RATHEESH N. P. S. MITHUN E. AARTHY SOURAV PALIT ABHAY KUMAR SANTOSH V. VADAWALE A. R. RAO VARUN BHALERAO DIPANKAR BHATTACHARYA

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      Cadmium–Zinc–Telluride Imager (CZTI) onboard AstroSat has been a prolific Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) monitor. While the 2-pixel Compton scattered events (100–300 keV) are used to extract sensitive spectroscopic information, the inclusion of the low-gain pixels ($\sim$20% of the detector plane) aftercareful calibration extends the energy range of Compton energy spectra to 600 keV. The new feature also allows single-pixel spectroscopy of the GRBs to the sub-MeV range which is otherwise limited to 150 keV. We also introduced a new noise rejection algorithm in the analysis (‘Compton noise’). These new additionsnot only enhances the spectroscopic sensitivity of CZTI, but the sub-MeV spectroscopy will also allow proper characterization of the GRBs not detected by Fermi. This article describes the methodology of single, Compton event and veto spectroscopy in 100–900 keV combined for the GRBs detected in the first year of operation. CZTI in last five years has detected $\sim$20 bright GRBs. The new methodologies, when applied on the spectral analysis for this large sample of GRBs, has the potential to improve the results significantly and help in better understanding the prompt emission mechanism.

    • Recent advances in the study of the prompt emission of gamma-ray bursts

      SHABNAM IYYANI

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      Gamma-ray bursts are the most energetic transients occurring in the distant cosmos. They are produced by either the collapse of massive stars or the merger of compact objects like neutron stars or black holes. Currently, gamma-ray burst is the only astrophysical event successfully observed in different messengerssuch as gravitational and electromagnetic waves. Despite several decades of extensive observations and research, gamma-ray bursts still remain largely elusive in terms of their central engine, jet composition and radiation process. In this article, the author will review the recent observational and theoreticaladvancements made in the direction to resolve some of these enigmas and the future outlook.

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    • Continuous Article Publication

      Posted on January 27, 2016

      Since January 2016, the Journal of Astrophysics and Astronomy has moved to Continuous Article Publishing (CAP) mode. This means that each accepted article is being published immediately online with DOI and article citation ID with starting page number 1. Articles are also visible in Web of Science immediately. All these have helped shorten the publication time and have improved the visibility of the articles.

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      Posted on July 25, 2019

      Click here for Editorial Note on CAP Mode

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