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# Stability of rotating states in a weakly-interacting Bose-Einstein condensate

## I Introduction

A Bose-Einstein condensate of trapped alkali-metal atoms  is an interesting system for studying phenomena connected with superfluidity. The behavior of this system under rotation has been studied extensively. Experimentally vortex states in a two-component Bose-Einstein condensate were observed by Matthews et al. . Also, Madison et al.  and more recently Abo-Shaeer et al.  and Haljan et al.  have created vortices in a single-component condensate.

Theoretical studies of this problem have been performed in the limit of weak interactions between the atoms , as well as in the Thomas-Fermi limit of strong interactions . Up to now most experiments are in the Thomas-Fermi regime; however in the recent experiment of Görlitz et al.  in a cigar-shaped trap, the limit of weak interactions was reached transversely to the long axis of the trap. In addition, in the experiment of Ref. , more than 100 vortices were created and as argued by Ho , in such a system one can easily get to the regime of weak interactions. In the present article we restrict ourselves to the limit of weak interactions.

As discussed by many authors  in this limit there is a degeneracy due to the harmonic confining potential, which corresponds to the many different ways of distributing $`L`$ units of angular momentum among $`N`$ atoms. The goal, therefore, is to incorporate the interactions which lift the degeneracy and determine the lowest-energy state of the system.

A basic question related to these systems concerns the lowest state for a given $`L`$ and $`N`$ in a symmetric confining potential. References  have dealt with this issue. Having understood the question of a symmetric confining potential, one can then examine the ground state in the presence of a realistic trap, which has a small but finite asymmetry, or even in a more deformed trap. Our main goal is to investigate (i) the single-particle density distribution of the condensate when it equilibrates in the rotating frame, and (ii) the characteristic timescale for relaxation of angular momentum of the condensate when the trap stops to rotate and the gas is no longer driven externally.

Our article is organized in the following way: We describe our model in Sec. II, examining how a small symmetry-breaking harmonic potential affects the lowest-energy state of a repulsive weakly-interacting Bose-Einstein condensate which is confined in a symmetric harmonic potential. In Sec. III we demonstrate that the state that minimizes the energy in the presence of a small asymmetric perturbation is the one given by the mean-field approximation, which is a broken-symmetric state. Finally, in Sec. IV we estimate the rate of relaxation of angular momentum when the asymmetric drive stops to rotate, and in Sec. V we summarize our results.

## II Model

### A Symmetric confining potential

Let us start with the Hamiltonian $`H`$, given by

$`H={\displaystyle \underset{i}{}}\left[{\displaystyle \frac{\mathrm{}^2}{2M}}\mathbf{}_i^2+{\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}M\omega _{}^2(x_i^2+y_i^2)\right],`$ (1)
with $`M`$ being the atomic mass. In what follows we assume that the cloud rotates around the $`z`$ axis, along which it remains in its ground state, so effectively we examine a two-dimensional problem. Let us assume for the moment that the trapping potential is that of an isotropic harmonic oscillator of frequency $`\omega _{}`$ in the $`x`$-$`y`$ plane. For this potential the single-particle energies $`ϵ_{n_r,m}`$ are given by

$`ϵ_{n_r,m}=(2n_r+|m|+1)\mathrm{}\omega _{},`$ (2)
where $`n_r`$ is the radial quantum number, and $`m`$ is the quantum number corresponding to the angular momentum. Let us also denote the corresponding single-particle states as $`\varphi _{n_r,m}`$ (single-particle states are denoted with small initial letters and many-particle states are denoted with capital initial letters.) As we discuss in the following subsection, a crucial observation according to Eq. (2) is that there is a degeneracy between states with ($`n_r=0`$; $`m=m_0`$), ($`n_r=1`$; $`m=m_02`$), ($`n_r=2`$; $`m=m_04`$), etc., with an energy $`(m_0+1)\mathrm{}\omega _{}`$. States with $`m`$ having the opposite sign as $`L`$ are excluded, since mixing them results in higher-energy .

### B Symmetry-breaking confining potential

Let us now assume that in addition to the circularly-symmetric harmonic potential there is a small symmetry-breaking potential $`\mathrm{\Delta }H`$ which has the form

$`\mathrm{\Delta }H={\displaystyle \underset{i}{}}{\displaystyle \frac{\epsilon }{2}}M\omega _{}^2(x_i^2y_i^2),`$ (3)
where $`\epsilon 1`$. The eigenvalues of the Hamiltonian $`H+\mathrm{\Delta }H`$ are known analytically in cartesian coordinates, and they are given by

$`ϵ_{n_x,n_y}=(n_x\sqrt{1+\epsilon }+n_y\sqrt{1\epsilon })\mathrm{}\omega _{},`$ (4)
where $`n_x`$ and $`n_y`$ are the number of quanta of oscillation along the $`x`$ and $`y`$ directions respectively. The corresponding eigenfunctions are given by the product of the eigenstates along the $`x`$ and $`y`$ directions with $`n_x`$ and $`n_y`$ quanta, respectively,

$`\varphi _{n_x,n_y}(x,y)=\varphi _{n_x}(x/a_x)\varphi _{n_y}(y/a_y).`$ (5)
Here $`a_i=(\mathrm{}/M\omega _i)^{1/2}`$, is the oscillator length along direction $`i`$, with $`\omega _x,\omega _y=\omega _{}\sqrt{1\pm \epsilon }`$.

Although the non-interacting problem can be solved exactly, it is instructive to continue working in cylindrical polar coordinates, and consider $`\mathrm{\Delta }H`$ as a small perturbation. In these coordinates $`\mathrm{\Delta }H`$ links single-particle states which differ by two units of angular momentum, $`m^{}m=\pm 2`$. Therefore $`\mathrm{\Delta }H`$ links the degenerate states with ($`n_r=0`$; $`m=m_0`$), ($`n_r=1`$; $`m=m_02`$), ($`n_r=2`$; $`m=m_04`$), etc. Within the subspace of these degenerate states the matrix elements of $`\mathrm{\Delta }H`$ are all zero, except the ones linking neighboring states, and they are of order $`\epsilon `$. Therefore the problem of diagonalizing $`H+\mathrm{\Delta }H`$ is equivalent to a tight-binding model, with a position-dependent hopping integral connecting only nearest neighbors. The correction $`\mathrm{\Delta }ϵ`$ to the single-particle energies due to $`\mathrm{\Delta }H`$ is thus of order $`\epsilon `$, and the energy of the single-particle states is

$`ϵ_{n_r,m}^{^{}}=ϵ_{n_r,m}+\mathrm{\Delta }ϵ=[m_0+1+𝒪(\epsilon _{n_r,m})]\mathrm{}\omega _{},`$ (6)
where $`𝒪(\epsilon _{n_r,m})`$ denotes a term of order $`\epsilon `$ which depends on $`n_r`$ and $`m`$. The corresponding single-particle states are given by

$`\varphi _{n_r,m}^{^{}}=\varphi _{n_r,m}+{\displaystyle \underset{n_r^{^{}},m^{}}{}}𝒪(\epsilon _{n_r^{^{}},m^{}})\varphi _{n_r^{^{}},m^{}},`$ (7)
where $`n_r^{^{}}`$ and $`m^{}`$ can take all the possible values, with the exception $`n_r^{^{}}n_r`$, and $`m^{}m`$. The results of Eqs. (6) and (7) can also be seen by expanding Eqs. (4) and (5) respectively in powers of $`\epsilon `$.

To be more explicit, the wavefunctions we have to consider for the lowest-energy state of the system are dominated by the component having no radial nodes,

$`\varphi _{0,m}^{^{}}=\varphi _{0,m}+{\displaystyle \underset{n_r^{^{}},m^{}}{}}𝒪(\epsilon _{0,m^{}})\varphi _{n_r^{^{}},m^{}},`$ (8)
with $`n_r^{^{}}=1,2,\mathrm{}`$, and $`m^{}=m2,m4,\mathrm{}`$

Equation (6) implies that the lowest energy of $`N`$ (non-interacting) bosons having $`L`$ units of angular momentum (measured relative to that of the ground state) is

$`E(L,N)=[L+N𝒪(\epsilon _{L,N})]\mathrm{}\omega _{},`$ (9)
where $`𝒪(\epsilon _{L,N})`$ is a term of order $`\epsilon `$ that depends on $`L`$ and $`N`$. According to Eq. (9) there is a spreading in the energy of the states around the value $`L\mathrm{}\omega _{}`$, which is of order $`N\epsilon \mathrm{}\omega _{}`$. As long as $`\epsilon `$ is small, $`\epsilon 1`$, the effect of this term is not substantial for $`L`$ being $`𝒪(N)`$.

### C Effect of interactions – Hierarchy of terms

Turning to the effect of the interactions between the atoms, we assume that these are of zero range,

$`V_{\mathrm{int}}={\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}U_0{\displaystyle \underset{ij}{}}\delta (𝐫_i𝐫_j),`$ (10)
where $`U_0=4\pi \mathrm{}^2a_{\mathrm{sc}}/M`$ is the strength of the effective two-body potential, with $`a_{\mathrm{sc}}`$ being the scattering length for atom-atom collisions. In the present article we examine only the case of effective repulsive interactions between the atoms, $`a_{\mathrm{sc}}>0`$.

In the limit that the interactions are weak, the energy of the states which are degenerate in the absence of interactions is spread over a width of order $`nU_0`$, where $`n`$ is the atom density and thus the following condition has to be satisfied

$`nU_0\mathrm{}\omega _{}.`$ (11)
If $`N`$ is the number of atoms in the trap, and assuming that the gas is trapped along the $`z`$ axis on a length scale of order $`R_z`$, and in the transverse direction on a length scale of order $`a_{}`$, $`n`$ is of order $`N/a_{}^2R_z`$; the above condition can then be written as

$`v_0\mathrm{}\omega _{}/N,`$ (12)
where $`v_0U_0/a_{}^2R_z`$. Equation (12) implies that the scattering length has to scale as

$`a_{\mathrm{sc}}{\displaystyle \frac{R_z}{N}},`$ (13)
for the assumption of weak interactions to be valid (for fixed $`\omega _{}`$.) As a result, the ratio $`\epsilon \mathrm{}\omega _{}/Nv_0`$ is $`1`$, and therefore

$`\epsilon \mathrm{}\omega _{}Nv_0\mathrm{}\omega _{}.`$ (14)
Under the above conditions the many-body states built up by $`\varphi _{0,m}^{^{}}`$ are quasi-degenerate. Therefore one has to deal with a problem similar to that of Refs.  of a symmetric confining potential, with a set of (quasi)degenerate states whose degeneracy is lifted by the interactions. Under the conditions given by Eq. (14), the energy of the lowest state (the so-called yrast state) with $`L`$ units of angular momentum and $`N`$ particles is given by

$`(L,N)=E(L,N)+E_{\mathrm{int}}(L,N).`$ (15)
Here $`E(L,N)`$ is given by Eq. (9), and we write it for convenience as $`E(L,N)=(L+aN\epsilon )\mathrm{}\omega _{}`$, where $`a`$ is a parameter of order unity that depends on $`L`$ and $`N`$. Also $`E_{\mathrm{int}}(L,N)`$ is the interaction energy due to $`V_{\mathrm{int}}`$. For $`\epsilon =0`$, $`E_{\mathrm{int}}(L,N)`$ has been expressed as a power series in $`N`$ and $`L`$ in Ref. ,

$`E_{\mathrm{int}}(L,N)=(b_1N^2+b_2NL+b_3N+b_4L+\mathrm{})v_0,`$ (16)
where $`b_i`$ are parameters of order unity that depend on $`L`$ and $`N`$. For $`\epsilon 0`$, $`E_{\mathrm{int}}(L,N)`$ becomes, to leading order in $`\epsilon `$,

$$E_{\mathrm{int}}(L,N)=(1+c\epsilon )(b_1N^2+b_2NL+b_3N+b_4L+\mathrm{})v_0,$$
(17)
where $`c`$ is a a parameter of order unity that depends on $`L`$ and $`N`$. The terms proportional to $`c\epsilon `$ result from the mixing of states with $`n_r0`$ (to leading order), but they are not of importance in our problem.

According to the above equations $`(L,N)`$ is given by (to leading order)

$$(L,N)=L\mathrm{}\omega _{}+(b_1N+b_2L)Nv_0+aN\epsilon \mathrm{}\omega _{}+\mathrm{},$$
(18)
with $`L\mathrm{}\omega _{}N^2v_0N\epsilon \mathrm{}\omega _{}`$, so the terms of order $`N^2v_0`$ in the interaction energy dominate the term in the energy due to the symmetry-breaking potential. For a given $`L`$, the corresponding angular frequency of rotation $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$ of the gas is

$`\mathrm{\Omega }={\displaystyle \frac{1}{\mathrm{}}}{\displaystyle \frac{(L,N)}{L}}.`$ (19)
The single-particle density contours that we derive in Sec. III refer to a frame that rotates with this frequency $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$, which we assume is also the frequency of rotation $`\mathrm{\Omega }_0`$ of the asymmetric potential $`\mathrm{\Delta }H`$ (under equilibrium conditions.) In Sec. IV we examine the response of the gas if the trap stops to rotate, i.e., if $`\mathrm{\Omega }_00`$.

### D Connection with experiment

Before we proceed, we explore the relevance of our study to experiment. As we mentioned in the Introduction, in the experiment of Ref. , more than 100 vortices were created and as argued in Ref. , in such a system one can easily get to the regime of weak interactions.

It is even more interesting that in the recent experiment described in Ref. , it has become possible to create Bose-Einstein condensates of 23Na atoms in cigar-shaped traps, where transversely to the long axis of the trap the gas is in the lowest harmonic-oscillator level. More specifically, the trapping frequencies used were $`\omega _z/2\pi =3.5`$ Hz and $`\omega _{}/2\pi =360`$ Hz, which implies that $`a_z11`$ $`\mu `$m and $`a_{}1`$ $`\mu `$m. To put as many atoms as possible, Görlitz et al. created a Bose-Einstein condensate which was in the Thomas-Fermi regime of strong interactions along the long axis, but on the other hand it was in the lowest harmonic-oscillator level perpendicular to the long axis. Under these conditions, the transverse width of the cloud is on the order of the oscillator length $`a_{}`$, and for the interaction energy to be comparable to $`\mathrm{}\omega _{}`$,

$`N_c{\displaystyle \frac{R_z}{a_{\mathrm{sc}}}},`$ (20)
where $`R_z`$ is the width of the cloud along the $`z`$ axis. As we mentioned, the cloud is in the Thomas-Fermi limit along this direction, and therefore

$`{\displaystyle \frac{R_z}{a_z}}\left({\displaystyle \frac{Na_{\mathrm{sc}}a_z}{a_{}^2}}\right)^{1/3}.`$ (21)
From Eqs. (20) and (21) we find that

$`N_c{\displaystyle \frac{a_z^2}{a_{}a_{\mathrm{sc}}}},`$ (22)
which gives $`N_c5\times 10^4`$. Indeed, it was confirmed that as $`N`$ varied around this value, the cloud passed from the limit of strong interactions to the one of weak interactions.

Under the above conditions, the coherence length $`\xi `$ at the center of the cloud is

$`{\displaystyle \frac{\xi }{a_{}}}\left({\displaystyle \frac{a_z^2}{Na_{\mathrm{sc}}a_{}}}\right)^{1/3}\left({\displaystyle \frac{N_c}{N}}\right)^{1/3}.`$ (23)
For $`NN_c`$, $`a_{}\xi `$, i.e., the coherence length becomes larger than the size of the trap and the properties of the system under rotation resemble those of superfluid nuclei.

## III Density contours

We investigate now the (normalized) single-particle density of the atoms $`\rho (𝐫)`$, in the many-body state $`|\mathrm{\Psi }_{L,N}`$ with $`N`$ atoms and $`L`$ units of angular momentum,

$`\rho (𝐫)={\displaystyle \frac{1}{N}}\mathrm{\Psi }_{L,N}|{\displaystyle \underset{i}{}}\delta (𝐫𝐫_i)|\mathrm{\Psi }_{L,N}.`$ (24)
From the exact solutions that come from diagonalization of $`V_{\mathrm{int}}`$ in the subspace of degenerate states , the single-particle density is always axially symmetric, reflecting the symmetry of the confining potential.

Let us now introduce a mean-field wavefunction , which is a Fock state expressed as a product of single-particle states:

$`\mathrm{\Psi }_{L,N}(𝐫_1,𝐫_2,\mathrm{},𝐫_N)=\psi (𝐫_1)\times \psi (𝐫_2)\mathrm{}\psi (𝐫_N).`$ (25)
The single-particle states $`\psi (𝐫_i)`$ can be expanded on the basis of the harmonic-oscillator eigenstates $`\varphi _{0,m}(𝐫_i)`$ with no radial nodes and an angular momentum $`m\mathrm{}`$ along the axis of rotation:

$`\psi (𝐫_i)={\displaystyle \underset{m=0}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}}c_m\varphi _{0,m}(𝐫_i).`$ (26)
In the approach of Refs.  the coefficients $`c_m`$ in Eq. (26) are treated as variational parameters with two constraints imposed on them: the first is the normalization condition, $`_m|c_m^2|=1`$, and the second is that the expectation value of the angular momentum be equal to $`l=L/N`$, $`_mm|c_m|^2=L/N`$. One then calulates the interaction energy which is

$`E_{\mathrm{int}}(L,N)={\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}}N^2v_0{\displaystyle |\psi (𝐫)|^4d^3r}`$ (27)
to leading order in $`N`$, and minimizes it with respect to the $`c_m`$. As a result of this approach, for repulsive interactions and within the mean-field approximation a vortex array develops as $`L/N`$ increases .

The mean-field wavefunction above has the following features or advantages: (i) it gives the exact leading-order term of the interaction energy, i.e., the $`N^2v_0`$ , (ii) the corresponding single-particle density breaks the rotational symmetry, since the single-particle states given by Eq. (26) have some axes of symmetry  by construction, and (iii) it is essentially a one-body wavefunction, and thus it is easy to work with and to visualize. As shown in Ref.  there is a freedom in one of the phases of the coefficients $`c_m`$ reflecting the rotational invariance of the confining potential. Therefore even in the mean-field approximation one can construct a circularly-symmetric state by superimposing the above states corresponding to different angles, and therefore to different orientations.

However, even an infinitesimally small $`\epsilon `$ is enough to change $`\rho (𝐫)`$ from being symmetric, looking like the one given by mean-field, and therefore with a specific orientation. To see this more clearly, we notice that the leading-order $`N^2v_0`$ term in the interaction energy given by the mean-field approximation is identical to the one that comes from the exact solution, as shown in Ref. . For any nonzero value of $`\epsilon `$ the term of order $`N\epsilon \mathrm{}\omega _{}`$ has to become as small as possible, as Eq. (18) implies, in addition to the leading-order term of the interaction energy, i.e., the $`N^2v_0`$. In order to minimize the $`N\epsilon \mathrm{}\omega _{}`$ term, the phase that is free to take any value when $`\epsilon =0`$ (reflecting the rotational invariance of the confining potential) has to be chosen appropriately. Therefore for $`\epsilon 0`$ there will be in general some preferred orientations of the cloud corresponding to some (distinct) values of the phase which minimize the $`N\epsilon \mathrm{}\omega _{}`$ term. These axes of symmetry rotate with an angular frequency $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$ given by Eq. (19).

Therefore, according to our analysis, an infinitesimally asymmetric confining potential makes the circularly symmetric single-particle density of the cloud unstable against the formation of a vortex array as given by the mean-field approximation. This array of vortices has been investigated in Refs.  (see Fig. 2 in Ref.  and Figs. 3 and 4 in Ref. ).

## IV Timescales

Related to the above remarks are some timescales which we examine now. We consider a problem corresponding to the experiment of Ref. , where the atoms get their angular momentum when they are still in the normal phase, above the transition temperature, by rotating $`\mathrm{\Delta }H`$ with some angular frequency $`\mathrm{\Omega }(t)`$, which slowly approaches the value $`\mathrm{\Omega }_0`$. The gas is then cooled down to the condensed phase, in the presence of the external rotating drive. The system equilibrates in the rotating frame, and eventually $`\mathrm{\Delta }H`$ is turned off slowly. After some time the atoms are released from the trap and expand, and their density is observed. Since the whole process occurs adiabatically, the state of the system is determined by minimizing the energy in the rotating frame, i.e., by minimizing $`^{}(L,N)=(L,N)L\mathrm{}\mathrm{\Omega }_0`$.

Therefore initially, when the gas is in the normal phase, it has some angular momentum, which changes during the cooling process to the condensed phase. When the cooling process is completed the gas is not in equilibrium yet, since its angular frequency of rotation $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$ given by Eq. (19) is not necessarily equal to the frequency of rotation of the trap $`\mathrm{\Omega }_0`$. One therefore has to wait for some time for the system to equilibrate, so that $`\mathrm{\Omega }`$ will become equal to $`\mathrm{\Omega }_0`$. After this time interval the gas is driven by the rotating asymmetric trap and it is in a “dynamical” steady state.

The interesting question is how does the gas respond if the symmetry-breaking potential stops to rotate. If this process occurs adiabatically, i.e., on timescales much larger that $`\omega _{}^1`$, the gas will go back to rest. The opposite limit, when the trap stops to rotate on a timescale that is short as compared to $`\omega _{}^1`$, is non-trivial, however. In this case the gas experiences a time-dependent potential. This potential induces transitions to states with a different angular momentum. Because of the symmetry of the perturbation $`\mathrm{\Delta }H`$ we have chosen (i.e., $`x^2y^2`$), only states which differ by two units of angular momentum are linked via $`\mathrm{\Delta }H`$. The rate $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$ for the system to lose two units of angular momentum (due to the torque coming from $`\mathrm{\Delta }H`$ that no longer drives the gas) is of order

$`\mathrm{\Gamma }={\displaystyle \frac{2\pi }{\mathrm{}}}{\displaystyle \frac{|\mathrm{\Phi }_{L2,N}|\mathrm{\Delta }H|\mathrm{\Psi }_{L,N}|^2}{|\mathrm{\Delta }(L,N)|}}.`$ (28)
Here $`|\mathrm{\Phi }_{L2,N}`$ is the state that couples to the ground state $`|\mathrm{\Psi }_{L,N}`$ via $`\mathrm{\Delta }H`$, and $`\mathrm{\Delta }(L,N)`$ is the energy difference between them. The rate $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$ is dominated by the transition to the state that is closest in energy to the yrast. Since the yrast state consists mostly of single-particle states with no radial excitations, the state that is closest in energy is the one dominated by single-particle states with one unit of radial excitations. The energy denominator in Eq. (28) is, to leading order,

$`|\mathrm{\Delta }(L,N)|Nv_0,`$ (29)
plus corrections of order $`N\epsilon \mathrm{}\omega _{}`$.

To proceed to the calculation of the matrix element of Eq. (28), let us denote as $`N_m`$ the occupancy of the state of the harmonic oscillator $`\varphi _{0,m}`$ when the system is in the yrast state $`|\mathrm{\Psi }_{L,N}`$. Within the mean-field approach $`N_m=N|c_m|^2`$, whereas within the exact approach one needs to project the yrast state on the basis $`\varphi _{0,m}`$ and get the corresponding $`N_m`$. There is very strong evidence that the two approaches give the same result for $`N_m`$ . The above matrix element is on the order of

$`\mathrm{\Phi }_{L2,N}|\mathrm{\Delta }H|\mathrm{\Psi }_{L,N}\epsilon \mathrm{}\omega _{}{\displaystyle \underset{m=0}{\overset{\mathrm{}}{}}}\sqrt{N_mN_{m+2}}.`$ (30)
Typically $`m`$ in the above sum runs over a few states only, since states with high values of $`m`$ are not occupied. Now two possibilities need to be considered. Depending on the value of the ratio $`L/N`$, the sum on the right of Eq. (30) can be either of order $`N^{1/2}`$, or of order $`N`$  and $`\mathrm{\Gamma }`$ depends crucially on that. We examine each case separately below.

### A Fast relaxation

When the yrast state consists of at least two states $`N_m`$ and $`N_{m+2}`$ which are of order $`N`$, the matrix element of Eq. (30) is of order $`N\epsilon \mathrm{}\omega _{}`$ and from Eqs. (28) and (29) we get that the rate for the system to lose $`LN`$ units of angular momentum is

$`{\displaystyle \frac{\mathrm{\Gamma }}{N}}=\omega _{}\epsilon ^2{\displaystyle \frac{\mathrm{}\omega _{}}{v_0}}\chi (L/N),`$ (31)
where $`\chi (L/N)`$ is a function of $`L/N`$, and its value is of order unity .

An important conclusion resulting from Eq. (31) is that the timescale for relaxation of angular momentum can get long as compared to the period of the trap, provided that

$`\epsilon \left({\displaystyle \frac{v_0}{\mathrm{}\omega _{}}}\right)^{1/2}.`$ (32)
Since, according to Eq. (12) $`v_0\mathrm{}\omega _{}/N`$ for the assumption of weak interaction to be valid, therefore

$`\epsilon {\displaystyle \frac{1}{N^{1/2}}}`$ (33)
for the decay rate to be $`\omega _{}`$. Under the conditions of Ref. , $`\epsilon 0.01`$ for $`N=5\times 10^4`$, which is a rather restrictive condition. Realistic symmetric traps have anisotropies on the order of 1% , and therefore the relaxation rate of angular momentum should be on the order of the trap frequency, even for the least asymmetric traps.

The above case of fast relaxation applies to all the yrast states with $`L/N2.03`$, except for the region around the single vortex, $`L/N1`$ . Above the value $`L/N2.03`$ the system shows a discontiuous transition from a two-fold symmetric state to a three-fold symmetric state . Also for $`L/N1`$ the yrast state is dominated by the occupancy of a single state, the $`m=1`$ . These cases are examined in the following subsection.

### B Slow relaxation

For $`L/N2.03`$, the yrast state is three-fold symmetric; therefore for $`L/N2.03`$ and for $`L/N1`$, the matrix element of Eq. (30) is instead given by

$`\mathrm{\Phi }_{L2,N}|\mathrm{\Delta }H|\mathrm{\Psi }_{L,N}\sqrt{N}\epsilon \mathrm{}\omega _{}.`$ (34)
In this case,

$`{\displaystyle \frac{\mathrm{\Gamma }}{N}}\omega _{}\epsilon ^2{\displaystyle \frac{\mathrm{}\omega _{}}{Nv_0}}.`$ (35)
From Eq. (35) one sees that for the state to be stable,

$`\epsilon \left({\displaystyle \frac{Nv_0}{\mathrm{}\omega _{}}}\right)^{1/2},`$ (36)
which is a condition much easier to satisfy, since although $`\epsilon `$ has to be numerically small, it does not have to scale with the number of atoms, $`N`$.

To summarize the results of this section, the presence of $`\mathrm{\Delta }H`$ that rotates with an angular frequency $`\mathrm{\Omega }_0`$ results in (i) transferring angular momentum, and (ii) favouring the creation of a vortex array instead of a circularly-symmetric ground state. Finally stopping the rotation of $`\mathrm{\Delta }H`$ results in a relaxation rate of the angular momentum of the gas that depends on the yrast state considered, i.e., on the ratio $`L/N`$. For $`L/N2.03`$, except $`L/N1`$, the rate is low as long as $`\epsilon N^{1/2}`$ and the states are stable under such weak perturbations. For $`L/N1`$, and for $`L/N2.03`$, the relaxation rate is suppressed by a factor of $`1/N`$, and $`\epsilon `$ has to be numerically small, but independent of $`N`$, for these states to be stable.

The relaxation rate can also be evaluated for higher values of $`L/N`$. According to Ref. , these states have certain symmetry, and as long as this symmetry is not two-fold , the relaxation rate is given by Eq. (35).

## V Conclusions

In conclusion, we have investigated the effect of a small asymmetry in the confining potential of a weakly-interacting Bose-Einstein condensate, which rotates bringing the gas into rotation. Three important results have come out of this study: (i) the limit of weak interactions can be achieved, even under current experimental conditions, (ii) even in a weakly-asymmetric rotating trap, in its lowest state the system develops a vortex array for an effective repulsive interaction between the atoms, and (iii) if the gas is no longer driven externally, the rate of relaxation of the angular momentum depends on the yrast state considered. For the specific form of the perturbation $`\mathrm{\Delta }H`$ (i.e., $`x^2y^2`$), if the yrast state does not have some symmetry, or if it has a two-fold symmetry, the rate of relaxation of angular momentum is large. On the other hand, the unit vortex, or states with $`s`$-fold symmetry, with $`s3`$ are expected to be more robust against anisotropies of the confining potential, since the rate of relaxation of angular momentum is lower by a factor of $`1/N`$. These are definite theoretical predictions and it is interesting to confirm them experimentally after the expected creation of vortices in weakly-interacting Bose-Einstein condensates.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I am grateful to A. Jackson, B. Mottelson, and S. M. Reimann for useful discussions.


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(December 14, 2001)

## Abstract

In his Comment N. Andrei questions the use of symmetric limits of integration of the Bethe ansatz integral equations in my recent study devoted to some features of the Bethe ansatz solution of the Kondo problem. In this Reply I show that the statement of the Comment about the asymmetry of integration limits contradicts the distribution of the quantum numbers in discrete Bethe ansatz equations. I also argue that the asymmetry of the excitation energy, supported in the Comment, contradicts the initial chiral symmetry of conduction electrons in the physical Kondo problem. Hence the distribution of spin rapidities has to be symmetric for any magnetization.

The Comment by N. Andrei  is devoted to the discussion of the very important point of the Kondo problem. Recently I pointed out that two energy scales can appear in the Bethe ansatz solution of the Kondo problem . The onset of the second scale was the consequence of the symmetric with respect to zero distribution of spin rapidities, which parametrize the eigenvalues and eigenstates of the Hamiltonian of the Kondo problem in the Bethe ansatz approach. The main question raised by the Comment is whether that distribution of spin rapidities is symmetric or asymmetric. In other words, the Comment questions the use of symmetric limits of integration of the Bethe ansatz integral equations in Ref. . I note that for the presence of two energy scales in the Bethe ansatz solution it is enough to consider both of limits being not necessary symmetric, but non-infinite, though. One infinite and one finite limits of integration produce ill-defined features of the ground states of the impurity models in the Bethe ansatz solutions and it was necessary to introduce special artificial cut-off procedures to avoid these problems .

There are two arguments that support the symmetric limits of integration of my approach:

1. In the discrete Bethe ansatz equations for spin rapidities \[Eqs. (1) of the Comment or Eqs. (3) of Ref. \] the quantum numbers $`J_\alpha `$, which parametrize the eigenstates and eigenvalues are distributed symmetrically with respect to zero, between $`\pm (NM1)/2`$ . Here $`N`$ is the number of electrons and $`M`$ is the number of electrons with down spin (including the impurity). Hence, this symmeric distribution is valid for any $`M`$, i.e., for any magnetic moment of the system \[the $`z`$-projection of the total spin of the system is equal to $`S^z=(N/2)M`$\]. The integral Bethe ansatz equations (Eq. (4) of the Comment and Eq. (4) of Ref. ) are the direct consequences of discrete Bethe ansatz equations (Eqs. (1) of the Comment or Eqs. (3) of Ref. ), according to the well-known procedure . Hence the distribution of rapidities in the thermodynamic continuum limit must be also symmetric for any magnetization of the system, otherwise the distributions of quantum numbers in the discrete Bethe ansatz equations and in their continuum limit would contradict each other.

2. The energy of any excitation, mentioned in the Comment, is, naturally, the consequence of the Bethe ansatz equations for quantum numbers (or for the distribution of rapidities). One cannot obtain that energy independently of the Bethe ansatz equations. N. Andrei points out that this energy is the asymmetric function of spin rapidities in the known Bethe ansatz solution of the Kondo problem. I argue that this is the artifact of the approach. Physically, one can consider both signs for the kinetic term in the Hamiltonian of the problem (the first equation of the Comment and Eq. (1) of Ref. ) because one can study the Kondo interaction of the magnetic impurity with either right- or left-moving conduction electrons from the same grounds. The physical answer must not depend on the choise of the chirality of conduction electrons, naturally. However, if one uses the definition of the energy supported in the Comment, the energy changes its sign when changing the chirality of conduction electrons, namely due to that asymmetry. Clearly, one has to use the symmetrized energy, too, to avoid this inconsistency. That implies that the energy should be defined as $`E=_{j=1}^N|k_j|+\mathrm{const}`$ . This removes the inconsistency between the symmetric distribution of quantum numbers in the discrete Bethe ansatz equations and the asymmetric distribution in its continous limit \[Eq. (4) of the Comment\], mentioned above. It turn out that, emphasized in the Comment, distributions of rapidities and energies are symmetric functions with respect to zero in any known Bethe ansatz solutions (lattice ones or quantum field theories) except of impurity problems.

Summarizing, the statement of the Comment about the asymmetry of integration limits contradicts the distribution of the quantum numbers in discrete Bethe ansatz equations. On the other hand, the asymmetry of the excitation energy supported in the Comment, contradicts the initial chiral symmetry of conduction electrons in the physical Kondo problem. Therefore the distribution of spin rapidities has to be symmetric for any magnetization of the system, which yields the presence of the second energy scale in the Bethe ansatz solution of the Kondo problem. This confirms the correctness of the conclusions made in my study .


text:
# A Hubble Space Telescope Snapshot Survey of Nearby Supernovae 1footnote 11footnote 1 Partially based on observations with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), Inc., under NASA contract NAS 5-26555.

## 1 INTRODUCTION

Supernovae (SNe) represent the final, explosive stage in the evolution of certain varieties of stars (see, e.g., Woosley & Weaver 1986; Arnett et al. 1989; Wheeler & Harkness 1990; Filippenko 1997, for reviews of SN types and explosion mechanisms). They synthesize and expel heavy elements, heat the interstellar medium, trigger vigorous bursts of star formation, create neutron stars and sometimes black holes, and produce energetic cosmic rays. Type Ia SNe (SNe Ia), among the most luminous of SNe, are exceedingly useful cosmological tools and have been used to study the expansion history of the Universe. These studies (Riess et al. 1998, 2001; Perlmutter et al. 1999; see Filippenko 2001 for a recent summary) reveal the surprising result that the expansion of the Universe is currently accelerating, perhaps due to a nonzero cosmological constant. SNe are clearly among the most interesting and important constituents of the Universe and should be vigorously studied.

### 1.1 Discovery and Monitoring of Nearby Supernovae

Detailed spectral and photometric observations of SNe can be used to study the properties of SNe, compare SNe at different redshifts, and gain insights into the evolutionary paths that lead to these energetic explosions. However, until recently, most relatively nearby SNe were found either sporadically, in images taken for other purposes, or at a considerable time after the explosion. Moreover, systematic follow-up observations were scarce for all but a minor fraction of the SNe. During the past few years, however, the situation has changed dramatically, as robotic (or nearly robotic) telescopes have been dedicated to the search for and follow-up of SNe (Filippenko et al. 2001). The two outstanding examples are the Beijing Astronomical Observatory Supernova Search (BAOSS; Li et al. 1996) with a 0.6-m telescope, and the Lick Observatory Supernova Search (LOSS; Treffers et al. 1997; Li et al. 2000; Filippenko et al. 2001) with the 0.8-m Katzman Automatic Imaging Telescope (KAIT).

KAIT reaches a limit of $``$ 19 mag (4$`\sigma `$) in 25-s unfiltered, unguided exposures, while 5-min guided exposures yield $`R`$ 20 mag. 2500$``$7000 galaxies (most with $`cz`$ 6000 km s-1) are surveyed during any particular season, with a cycle time of $``$ 3$``$10 days. The search software automatically subtracts new images from old ones and identifies SN candidates which are subsequently examined by undergraduate research assistants.

LOSS discovered its first SN in 1997 (SN 1997bs; Treffers et al. 1997; Van Dyk et al. 2000), then 20 SNe in 1998, 40 in 1999, 36 in 2000, and 68 in 2001. Together, LOSS and BAOSS have found a total of over 180 SNe in the past 5 years. Recently, LOSS teamed up with Michael Schwartz in Arizona, forming the Lick Observatory and Tenagra Observatory Supernova Search (LOTOSS), allowing more SNe to be discovered and followed.

Since most of the SNe found during these systematic searches are discovered very early in their development, and have a large amount of follow-up time devoted to them, they are among the world’s best-studied SNe (see, e.g., Li et al. 2000, 2001a; Leonard et al. 2002a,b). Li, Filippenko, & Riess (2001) and Li et al. (2001b) also show that these surveys are least affected by observational biases, and provide the most accurate luminosity function for SNe. The rate of intrinsically peculiar SNe Ia, for example, is found to be unexpectedly high.

### 1.2 The Environment and Late-Time Detection of Supernovae

The explosion of a SN leaves few traces of the star that underwent the catastrophic event. An important clue to the nature of the progenitor is its environment (e.g., Boffi 1999). Unfortunately, most studies of the sites of SNe have been hampered by the limited spatial resolution of ground-based observations (e.g., van den Bergh 1988; Panagia & Laidler 1991; Boffi, Sparks, & Macchetto 1999). This problem can be partially overcome by using Hubble Space Telescope (HST) archival images (e.g., Van Dyk et al. 1999a,b, 2000). However, although the chance that the site of any particular SN has been imaged by HST during other programs is rapidly growing, it is still relatively low. Also, some of the positions of older SNe (prior to 1990) were uncertain, compromising studies of their local environment.

To remedy this, an HST Snapshot survey program (GO-8602) of recent, nearby SNe was conducted starting in Cycle 9, requesting WFPC2 images of the sites of 23 LOSS and BAOSS SNe222Some of these 23 SNe were first discovered by other groups, but subsequently found in the course of LOSS and BAOSS. with $`cz`$6000 km s-1. These SNe provide the best spatial resolution and have accurate positions (often better than $`\pm 0\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}5`$). In addition, they were generally discovered early in their development, and had extensive ground-based follow-up studies. 45 out of the 70 ($`45\%`$) requested observations have been made, with 20 out of the 23 SNe ($`90\%`$) observed at least once and 13 ($`56\%`$) of the SNe having images in more than one filter; thus, the chances of imaging the sites of specific SNe are much higher than by using the archive alone. Moreover, the data are all obtained in a uniform way using the same set of filters.

One advantage of concentrating the Snapshot survey on very recent, nearby, well-studied SNe is that many of the SNe themselves are still visible in the $`HST`$ images, providing late-time photometry superior to that achieved from the ground; at such late times, the SNe are so faint that their ground-based photometry is contaminated by neighboring stars within the seeing disk. Late-time photometry, especially through more than one filter, provides not only useful information on the underlying physics for the lingering light, such as radioactive decay of long-lived isotopes, interaction with circumstellar matter, and light echoes, but also the relative brightness of SNe still present in “template” images taken at various epochs compared to their maximum light. To obtain proper photometry of a SN, which often occurs in a complicated background (e.g., spiral arms or H II regions), observers are required to take template images of the host galaxy a year or two after the discovery, and then do image subtraction. It is often assumed that the light of the SN is essentially negligible in these template images, but as we later discuss in this paper, some SNe (especially those of Type II) are quite long-lived and may contaminate the template images.

Detailed analysis of the SN environments is still underway, and the results will be discussed elsewhere. In this paper, we report on SNe recovered in the Snapshot images. Section 2 contains a description of the observations and analysis of the photometry, while § 3 presents the light curves of all recovered SNe, details of individual SNe, and comparison of late-time light-curve shapes and decline rates. Our conclusions are summarized in § 4.

## 2 OBSERVATIONS AND REDUCTIONS

Table 1 lists the observational details of all 12 SNe recovered in the Snapshot program GO-8602, while Figure 1 shows the finding charts for the SNe. All the Snapshot images were obtained in pairs to facilitate removal of cosmic rays.

To properly identify the SNe in the WFPC2 images, we have used the best available astrometry in the literature (details of the sources for astrometry can be found in § 3), and derived the position of the SNe using the pointing information in the image headers. In most cases, each of the SNe identified in Figure 1 is the only object within a 0$`\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}5`$ radius error circle. Three exceptions are SNe 1997bs, 1999gi, and 1999gq. Identification of SN 1997bs in the Snapshot images was accomplished by comparing them to the finder chart in Van Dyk et al. (2000), where SN 1997bs was apparent in a co-added deep $`HST`$ archival WFPC2 F555W image. SN 1997bs is only marginally detected in our F555W image taken on 2001 March 4 UT (UT dates are used throughout this paper), and not detected in the two F814W images (see details in § 3). Three stars are within the 0$`\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}5`$ radius error circle of SN 1999gi; following Smartt et al. (2001), we identify the brightest object as the SN. No object is within the 0$`\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}5`$ radius error circle of the position of SN 1999gq. However, our estimate for the brightness of SN 1999gq (by comparison with the light curve of the SN II-P 1988A; Turatto et al. 1993) is 22.0$`\pm `$0.3 mag at the time of the Snapshot observation, so the SN should be visible in the image. Fortunately, we have several excellent KAIT images of SN 1999gq, and after rotating one of them to the orientation of the WFPC2 image, we measured the relative angular distance between the SN and several bright stars from the KAIT image, and identified the SN using the corresponding offsets from these bright stars seen in the WFPC2 four-chip mosaic. We find that the pointing for the Snapshot observations of SN 1999gq is off by more than 6$`\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}0`$, relative to information in the data header.

To measure SN magnitudes in the Snapshot images, we have used the “HSTphot” package developed by Dolphin (2000a). The data quality images are used to mask bad pixels and defects in the data image using the program mask. The program crmask is used to remove cosmic rays, and the program coadd is used to combine the two images. The program getsky is then used to determine the sky value at each pixel. Hot pixels are identified and masked using the program hotpixels. Following all this preprocessing, the images are fed into the program hstphot, where the magnitudes in the WFPC2 system are measured for all the stars using the zero points and charge-transfer efficiency (CTE) determined by Dolphin (2000b). We have used option flag 10 for hstphot, which is a combination of turning on local sky determination and turning off aperture corrections. Turning on local sky determination is recommended by the HSTphot manual333See URL http://www.noao.edu/staff/dolphin/hstphot/, while turning off aperture corrections is necessary because for most of the Snapshot images, there are not enough bright and isolated stars to determine a reliable aperture correction. Default aperture corrections are applied to the photometry obtained with the HST filters; these are probably accurate, in general, to 0.02 mag in F555W and F814W, and to 0.05 mag in F675W (cf. the HSTphot manual). These uncertainties are combined in quadrature with the photometric uncertainties returned by hstphot, and the resulting uncertainties are reported in the last column of Table 1.

Ideally, to tie the magnitudes in the WFPC2 system (Table 1) to the early-time light curves of the SNe obtained from the ground \[which are typically in the standard Johnson ($`UBV`$) and Cousins ($`RI`$) system\], a magnitude transformation such as those described by Holtzman et al. (1995) and Dolphin (2000b) should be applied. (Note, however, that although these transformations are generally applicable to stars, they might not be as applicable to emission-line dominated sources, such as SNe.) We have done this for SN 2000cx (see discussion below), but not for the other SNe because of the difficulty of getting late-time color information for them. The differences in these two magnitude systems can be estimated using the procedure described by Dolphin (2000b) \[his equation (1) and Tables 6 and 7\]:

$$VF555W=0.052(VI)+0.027(VI)^2,$$

$$IF814W=0.062(VI)+0.025(VI)^2,$$

where $`V`$ and $`I`$ are the magnitudes in the standard ground-based system, and $`F555W`$ and $`F814W`$ are the magnitudes in the WFPC2 system. A reasonable range for the late-time $`VI`$ color of the SNe is $``$0.5 to 2 mag, which indicates that the differences between $`V`$ and $`F555W`$, as well as between $`I`$ and $`F814W`$, are smaller than 0.04 mag. In subsequent discussions, we will neglect the difference between these two systems.

For SN 2000cx, since the F675W and F814W observations were taken at the same time, we can use the following equations (also from Dolphin 2000b) to transform the magnitudes:

$$RF675W=+0.273(RI)0.066(RI)^2,$$

$$IF814W=0.112(RI)+0.084(RI)^2.$$

The $`(RI)`$ color should have minimal difference from its WFPC2 system equivalent $`(F675WF814W)`$, which is 0.55 mag from Table 1. When this color is applied to the above equations, we get $`R`$ = 22.10$`\pm `$0.06 and $`I`$ = 21.38$`\pm `$0.04, which are the magnitudes for the SN 2000cx Snapshot observations used in subsequent discussions.

## 3 RESULTS

Figures 2 – 5 show the light curves of the 12 SNe recovered in the Snapshot observations. The solid circles are the photometry from $`HST`$, while the open circles represent ground-based measurements. As discussed above, the F555W and $`V`$-band magnitudes are plotted together, as are F814W with the $`I`$ band. The sources of the ground-based photometry are listed below in the notes on individual SNe.

### 3.1 SN 1995N

SN 1995N in MCG $``$02$``$38$``$017 (also Arp 261) was discovered by Pollas (1995) on 1995 May 5. Optical spectra of the object obtained by Benetti, Bouchet, & Schwarz (1995) and by Garnavich & Challis (1995) showed it to be a Type IIn SN; specifically, it resembles SN 1988Z in its characteristics (see Filippenko 1997 for a summary of SNe IIn). Van Dyk et al. (1996a) reported the detection of radio emission from the SN at 3.6 cm on 1995 June 16 and also provided a precise position of the SN at $`\alpha `$ = 14h49m28s.313, $`\delta =10\mathrm{°}10\mathrm{}13\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}92`$ (equinox J2000.0), which are the coordinates we used to locate the SN in the Snapshot observations.

The ground-based photometry (open circles in Figure 2) consists of previously unpublished observations taken at the 1.0-m Nickel telescope at Lick Observatory except the two latest $`V`$-band points, which were obtained from Schaefer & Roscherr (1999) and Schaefer (2001). In particular, the Schaefer (2001) observations (which yielded $`V`$ = 21.1$`\pm `$0.3 mag) with the McDonald Observatory 2.1-m telescope were made on the same UT date as our $`HST`$ Snapshot observation (which yielded $`F555W`$ = 21.213$`\pm `$0.023), and the reported magnitudes agree with each other very well. The earliest Nickel observations taken on 1995 May 23 (18 days after discovery) yielded a $`V`$ mag of 18.72, about 1.2 mag fainter than the reported brightness at the time of discovery (Pollas 1995). We suspect that the discovery magnitude is erroneous; Fransson et al. (2002) argue that the SN was already about 10 months old at the time of discovery, and it declined only by another 1.2 mag in $`1400`$ days after the first Nickel observation.

As noted by Schaefer & Roscherr (1999) and Schaefer (2001), SN 1995N has a very slow optical decline rate, only 2.5 mag (3 from the Nickel photometry) in the $`V`$ band over $``$2200 days after discovery. This is consistent with the slow spectral evolution reported by Fransson et al. (2002). The decline rate for the $`V`$ band increased from ($`0.08\pm 0.01`$ mag)/(100 days) (from discovery to about 1400 days after discovery) to ($`0.18\pm 0.01`$ mag)/(100 days) (from about 1400 days to 2200 days after discovery), while the decline rate for the $`I`$ band decreased from ($`0.13\pm 0.01`$ mag)/(100 days) (from discovery to about 1900 days after discovery) to ($`0.05\pm 0.01`$ mag)/(100 days) (from about 1900 to 2200 days after discovery). Although the decline rates in the two passbands seem to change in opposite directions, the light curves are not sufficiently well sampled to make any definitive conclusions.

Roscherr & Schaefer (2000) investigated the light echoes from dust formed in the circumstellar wind of SNe IIn, and concluded that they cannot properly account for the slow decline seen in SNe IIn 1988Z and 1997ab. They suggested that the shock interaction of the SN ejecta colliding with the circumstellar wind is the dominant source of late-time emission of these two SNe IIn, consistent with previous suggestions (e.g., Filippenko 1997; Aretxaga et al. 1999). As we discuss in subsequent sections, the late-time decline rates for SNe IIn span a wide range, so there may be differences in the degree of circumstellar interaction among these SNe.

Fransson et al. (2002) investigated the late-time spectral evolution of SN 1995N from both ground-based and $`HST`$ observations, and concluded that the late-time emission of SN 1995N is most likely powered by X-rays from the interaction of the ejecta and the circumstellar medium of the progenitor. They proposed that the progenitors of SNe IIn are similar to red supergiants in their superwind phases, when most of the hydrogen-rich gas is expelled in the last $``$ 104 years before explosion.

### 3.2 SN 1996cb

SN 1996cb in NGC 3510 was first discovered by M. Aoki (Nakano & Aoki 1996) on 1996 December 15, and then independently by BAOSS (Qiao et al. 1996) on 1996 December 18. Garnavich, Kirshner, & Berlind (1996a) classified SN 1996cb as a SN II near maximum brightness from a spectrum obtained 2 days after discovery; using a spectrum obtained 16 days later, however, they suggested that it was a Type IIb SN (Garnavich et al. 1996b), similar to SN 1993J (e.g., Filippenko, Matheson, & Ho 1993). An early radio detection was reported by Van Dyk et al. (1996b), who also provided a precise position for SN 1996cb as $`\alpha `$ = 11h3m42s.00, $`\delta =+28\mathrm{°}54\mathrm{}14\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}2`$ (equinox J2000.0).

Qiu et al. (1999) reported early spectroscopic and photometric ($`BVR`$) observations of SN 1996cb, and concluded that although SN 1996cb is indeed a SN IIb similar to SN 1993J, the two SNe have some differences in both the photometric and spectral evolution. Compared to SN 1993J, SN 1996cb shows broader light curves, as well as earlier and stronger He I emission; thus, SN 1996cb may have thicker hydrogen and helium layers than SN 1993J in the outer ejecta.

The early $`V`$-band photometry in Figure 2 is taken from Qiu et al. (1999). There is no $`I`$-band photometry for SN 1996cb available in the literature, and the point shown in Figure 2 is obtained by assuming SN 1996cb has the same $`VI`$ color at the second peak as SN 1993J (Richmond et al. 1996). No reliable late-time decline rate can be obtained for SN 1996cb, since there is a 1400 day gap between the two latest $`V`$-band observations, and there is only a 13-day difference between the two F814W $`HST`$ Snapshot observations. However, it can be inferred from the latest point in the $`V`$ band light curve that the decline rate of SN 1996cb does become significantly slower at late times, probably caused by the interaction between the SN ejecta and the circumstellar medium. Evidence of circumstellar interaction is also found in the case of SN 1993J, the prototypical SN IIb (Filippenko, Matheson, & Barth 1994; Matheson et al. 2000).

### 3.3 SN 1997bs

SN 1997bs in NGC 3627 was discovered by LOSS (Treffers et al. 1997) on 1997 April 15, the first LOSS SN discovery. A spectrum obtained by Filippenko, Barth, & Gilbert (1997) showed that the SN is a peculiar SN IIn. A precise position of the SN was provided by Cavagna & Manca (1997) as $`\alpha `$ = 11h20m14s.25, $`\delta =+12\mathrm{°}58\mathrm{}19\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}6`$ (equinox J2000.0).

Van Dyk et al. (2000) reported early photometry of SN 1997bs from both KAIT and archival $`HST`$ WFPC2 observations, some of which are shown in Figure 2. Based on these observations, Van Dyk et al. questioned the identification of SN 1997bs as a bona fide SN, and suggested that it is more likely to be a “superoutburst” of a luminous blue variable star, analogous to $`\eta `$ Carinae, and similar to SN 1961V in NGC 1058 (Goodrich et al. 1989; Filippenko et al. 1995) and SN 1954J in NGC 2403 (Smith, Humphreys, & Gehrz 2001). More recent examples of SN 1997bs-like objects include SN 1999bw (Filippenko, Li, & Modjaz 1999; see discussion below), SN 2000ch (Filippenko 2000a; Wagner et al. 2000), and SN 2001ac (Matheson & Calkins 2001). Van Dyk et al. (2000) suspected that the progenitor of SN 1997bs might have survived the outburst, since the SN was seen in early-1998 $`HST`$ images at $`F555W=23.4`$ mag, about 0.5 mag fainter than the progenitor identified by Van Dyk et al. (1999b) in a prediscovery image.

The Snapshot observations seem to provide evidence against the superoutburst interpretation of SN 1997bs. SN 1997bs is marginally detected in the F555W image taken on 2001 March 4 ($`F555W=25.8\pm 0.3`$ mag), and not detected in the two F814W images taken on 2001 February 24 and May 28 (limiting magnitude about 25.0). These observations show that SN 1997bs continued to decline after early 1998, at 0.21 mag/(100 days) in the $`V`$ band, and $`>`$ 0.41 mag/(100 days) in the $`I`$ band, inconsistent with the suggestion that the progenitor of the SN survived the explosion. While formation of dust in the ejecta could explain the continuous decline in the optical wavelengths ($`V`$ and $`I`$), it is inconsistent with the color evolution. The SN should become progressively redder if dust is forming in the ejecta, but SN 1997bs has become progressively bluer, from $`VI=3.0`$ mag in early 1998 to $`VI<0.8`$ mag in early 2001. Additional deep multiband $`HST`$ images of SN 1997bs could provide useful information on the late-time behavior of the object and help to constrain its nature.

### 3.4 SN 1997ef

SN 1997ef in UGC 4107 was discovered by Y. Sano (Nakano & Sano 1997) on 1997 November 25. Garnavich et al. (1997a) obtained a spectrum of the object that showed very unusual broad features, and failed to identify it as any known type of SN. Filippenko & Martin (1997) suggested that the object may be a previously unobserved, extreme example of a stripped (Type Ic-like) SN; this was also proposed by Garnavich et al. (1997b) and by Wang, Howell, & Wheeler (1998). A precise position of the SN was provided by Nakano & Sano (1997): $`\alpha `$ = 7h57m2s.82, $`\delta =+49\mathrm{°}33\mathrm{}40\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}2`$ (equinox J2000.0).

SN 1997ef is the subject of a number of studies, because of its peculiar spectroscopic behavior and its possible association with a gamma-ray burst that occurred on 1997 November 15 (e.g., Wang & Wheeler 1998; Nomoto et al. 1999; Iwamoto et al. 2000; Mazalli, Iwamoto, & Nomoto 2000). Iwamoto et al. (2000) also claim that SN 1997ef belongs to a class of objects termed “hypernova,” the prototype of which is SN 1998bw (e.g., Iwamoto et al. 1998; Woosley, Eastman, & Schmidt 1999).

The early $`I`$-band photometry of SN 1997ef shown in Figure 3 consists of previously unpublished KAIT observations. These data show that SN 1997ef declined at a rate of 1.27 mag/(100 days) in the first 100 days after discovery. The decline rate changed dramatically thereafter, and the SN faded only 2.5 mag over the next 1100 days. Again, circumstellar interaction or a light echo could be a possible cause.

### 3.5 SN 1998S

SN 1998S in NGC 3877 was discovered by BAOSS on 1998 March 3 (Li & Li 1998). A spectrum taken by Filippenko & Moran (1998) indicated that SN 1998S was a peculiar SN IIn. Van Dyk et al. (1999c) reported radio detection of SN 1998S on 1999 October 28, and provided a precise position as $`\alpha `$ = 11h46m6s.140, $`\delta =+47\mathrm{°}28\mathrm{}55\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}45`$ (equinox J2000.0).

The early-time photometry of SN 1998S shown in Figure 3 consists of KAIT observations taken from Modjaz et al. (2002, in preparation). Early optical and infrared photometry of SN 1998S was also reported by Fassia et al. (2000) and Liu et al. (2000). The $`V`$-band and $`I`$-band decline rates for SN 1998S seem to exhibit two significant changes, the first at $``$100 days after maximum brightness, and the second roughly 300 days after maximum. The late-time ($`>`$ 300 d) decline rate of SN 1998S is ($`0.34\pm 0.03`$ mag)/(100 days) in the $`V`$ band, and ($`0.56\pm 0.05`$ mag)/(100 days) in the $`I`$ band. This slow decline rate is certainly caused by strong circumstellar interaction, as discussed by Leonard et al. (2000) based on spectropolarimetry and spectroscopy of SN 1998S, as well as from its radio and X-ray emission (Pooley et al. 2002).

### 3.6 SN 1999bw

SN 1999bw in NGC 3198 was discovered by LOSS (Li 1999). A precise position was also provided by Li (1999) as $`\alpha `$ = 10h19m46s.81, $`\delta =+45\mathrm{°}31\mathrm{}35\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}0`$ (equinox J2000.0). Spectra taken by Garnavich et al. (1999a) and Filippenko et al. (1999) showed barely resolved hydrogen Balmer emission lines, and Filippenko, Li, & Modjaz (1999) classified the object as a SN 1997bs-like Type IIn SN.

The early-time photometry of SN 1999bw shown in Figure 3 consists of previously unpublished KAIT observations. SN 1999bw declined 5.6 mag in the first 620 days after maximum, while SN 1997bs declined about 7.0 mag in the same period (estimated from Figure 2), so their photometric evolution seems to differ to some extent, even though they have similar spectra and low peak luminosity (Filippenko, Li, & Modjaz 1999).

### 3.7 SN 1999eb

SN 1999eb in NGC 664 was discovered by LOSS (Modjaz & Li 1999) on 1999 October 2. The SN was also present in earlier LOSS images taken on 1999 September 22 and 29. A precise position is reported by Modjaz & Li (1999) as $`\alpha `$ = 1h43m45s.45, $`\delta =+4\mathrm{°}13\mathrm{}25\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}9`$ (equinox J2000.0). Garnavich et al. (1999b) obtained a spectrum of the SN and classified it as a Type IIn. Terlevich, Fabian, & Turatto (1999) suggested that SN 1999eb was possibly associated with a gamma-ray burst that occurred on 1999 October 2. However, as pointed out by Filippenko (2000b), this association seems quite unlikely, given the fact that SN 1999eb was present in LOSS images on 1999 September 22, 10 days before the gamma-ray burst.

The early-time photometry of SN 1999eb shown in Figure 4 consists of KAIT data taken from Modjaz et al. (2002, in preparation). The F555W observation $``$450 days after maximum brightness is in good agreement with a linear extrapolation from early points, suggesting that the decline rate in the $`V`$ band probably does not change significantly during this period. There are three $`F814`$ observations for SN 1999eb, which yield a good estimate of the late-time decline rate as ($`0.86\pm 0.01`$ mag)/(100 days).

### 3.8 SN 1999el

SN 1999el in NGC 6951 was discovered by BAOSS (Cao et al. 1999) on 1999 October 20. A precise position was also provided by Cao et al. (1999) as $`\alpha `$ = 20h37m17s.83, $`\delta =+66\mathrm{°}6\mathrm{}11\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}5`$ (equinox J2000.0). From a spectrum taken with the BAO 2.16-m telescope, Filippenko (1999) identified SN 1999el as a very early Type IIn SN.

The early-time photometry of SN 1999el shown in Figure 4 consists of KAIT data taken from Modjaz et al. (2002, in preparation). The late-time Snapshot observations suggest that the decline rate of SN 1999el in both the $`V`$ and $`I`$ bands has changed at late times. The two F814W Snapshot observations yield a late-time $`I`$-band decline rate of ($`1.30\pm 0.03`$ mag)/(100 days).

### 3.9 SN 1999gi

SN 1999gi in NGC 3184 was discovered by R. Kushida (Nakano & Kushida 1999) on 1999 December 9. A precise position is also reported by Nakano & Kushida (1999) as $`\alpha `$ = 10h18m16s.66, $`\delta =+41\mathrm{°}26\mathrm{}28\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}2`$ (equinox J2000.0). Jha et al. (1999a) obtained a spectrum of SN 1999gi and classified it as a SN II.

The well-sampled early-time light curves for SN 1999gi shown in Figure 4 are the KAIT observations taken from Leonard et al. (2002b), and indicate that SN 1999gi is a normal Type II-P SN. The F555W observation is consistent with a linear extrapolation of the latest KAIT data, and yields a decline rate of ($`1.01\pm 0.01`$ mag)/(100 days).

Our Snapshot image of SN 1999gi was used by Smartt et al. (2001) to place an upper limit on the mass of the progenitor of the SN. However, as discussed more fully by Leonard et al. (2002b), their derived upper limit may be too stringent, since the distance they used to the SN (7.9 Mpc) is substantially less than the distance derived through the expanding photosphere method ($`12`$ Mpc) and other recent distance estimates to the host galaxy.

### 3.10 SN 1999gq

SN 1999gq in NGC 4523 was discovered by LOSS (Papenkova & Li 1999) on 1999 December 23. An independent discovery was reported by Armstrong (1999). SN 1999gq was classified as a SN II from spectroscopic observations by Ayani & Yamaoka (1999) and by Jha et al. (1999b). A precise position of the SN was reported by Papenkova & Li (1999) as $`\alpha `$ = 12h33m48s.32, $`\delta =+15\mathrm{°}10\mathrm{}48\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}2`$ (equinox J2000.0).

The sparse early-time photometry of SN 1999gq shown in Figure 5 consists of previously unpublished KAIT observations. The SN has not been well observed, and the gap between the early-time and Snapshot observations is too large ($`>`$ 500 days) to determine a reliable decline rate.

### 3.11 SN 2000P

SN 2000P in NGC 4965 was discovered by R. Chassagne (Colas & Chassagne 2000) on 2000 March 8. A precise position of the SN is reported by Colas & Chassagne (2000) as $`\alpha `$ = 13h7m10s.53, $`\delta =28\mathrm{°}14\mathrm{}2\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}5`$ (equinox J2000.0). SN 2000P was spectroscopically classified as a SN IIn (Cappellaro et al. 2000; Jha et al. 2000).

The early-time photometry of SN 2000P shown in Figure 5 consists of previously unpublished KAIT observations. The F555W observation 250 days after discovery indicates that the decline rate of SN 2000P changed at late times.

### 3.12 SN 2000cx

SN 2000cx in NGC 524 was discovered by LOSS (Yu, Modjaz, & Li 2000) on 2000 July 17. Yu et al. also provided a precise position of the SN as $`\alpha `$ = 1h24m46s.15, $`\delta =+09\mathrm{°}30\mathrm{}30\stackrel{}{\mathrm{.}}9`$ (equinox J2000.0). SN 2000cx was classified as a SN 1991T-like peculiar SN Ia from a spectrum obtained by Chornock et al. (2000).

SN 2000cx is one of the best-monitored SNe Ia in the literature. The early spectroscopic and photometric observations were reported by Li et al. (2001a), which showed SN 2000cx to be a unique SN Ia. SN 2000cx showed an apparent asymmetry in the $`B`$-band light curve, in which the premaximum brightening is relatively fast (similar to that of the normal SN 1994D), but the postmaximum decline is relatively slow (similar to that of the overluminous SN 1991T). The color of SN 2000cx is also extremely blue. The premaximum spectra of SN 2000cx are similar to those of SN 1991T-like objects, but its overall spectral evolution is quite different, with strong Si II lines until three weeks past $`B`$ maximum and a slow change in the excitation stages of iron-peak elements. Matter is also moving at high expansion velocities in the ejecta of SN 2000cx. Based on these observations, Li et al. proposed that SN 2000cx may be an overluminous object like SN 1991T, but with a larger yield of 56Ni and a higher kinetic energy in the ejecta.

The early-time photometry of SN 2000cx in Figure 5 consists of the KAIT observations from Li et al. (2001a). The Snapshot observations of SN 2000cx were made about a year after discovery, which show that the decline rate of the SN in both the $`R`$ and $`I`$ bands has decreased at late times. The decline rate measured from the latest KAIT points and the Snapshot observations is ($`1.61\pm 0.05`$ mag)/(100 days) for the $`R`$ band, and ($`1.10\pm 0.08`$ mag)/(100 days) for the $`I`$ band. The change of decline rate at late times for SN 2000cx is most likely not due to light echoes, since SN 2000cx occurred at the outskirts of an early-type (S0) galaxy, where a dusty environment is not expected. Light echoes have been successfully detected around at least two SNe Ia: SN 1991T, after 600 days following maximum (Schmidt et al. 1994), and SN 1998bu, after 500 days following maximum (Cappellaro et al. 2001).

### 3.13 Comparison of SNe IIn

Seven of the 12 SNe recovered in our Snapshot program are SNe IIn and show slow evolution at late times. As discussed in previous sections, some differences among their late-time decline rates are found. This is to be expected because the subclass of SNe IIn is known to span a very broad range of properties (e.g., Filippenko 1997; Filippenko, Li, & Modjaz 1999). Some SNe IIn are subluminous (e.g., SN 1997bs with $`M_V=13.8`$ mag, Van Dyk et al. 2000), others are moderately bright (e.g., SN 1999eb with $`M_V=18.6`$ mag, assuming $`H_0`$ = 65 km s-1 Mpc-1), while a few can rival the brightness of a SN Ia (e.g., SN 1998S with $`M_V=19.6`$ mag, Leonard et al. 2000).

Figure 6 shows the light curves of all the SNe IIn recovered in our Snapshot program. Even though the data are often limited by a large gap in time between the ground-based and the $`HST`$ Snapshot photometry, or by large time intervals between the Snapshot observations, it is still easily seen from Figure 6 that the light-curve shapes for the SNe IIn are quite different: some decline monotonically after maximum (e.g., SN 1999eb in the $`V`$ band, and SN 1999eb in the $`I`$ band), while others experience multiple changes in their decline rate (e.g., SNe 1997bs and 1998S in the $`V`$ band). There is no clear correlation between the light-curve shapes and the luminosities of the SNe IIn: the overluminous SN 1998S and the subluminous SN 1997bs have similar narrow peaks, while the moderately bright SN 1999eb has a very broad peak.

Table 2 lists the late-time decline rates for some of the SNe IIn, and it is clear that they span quite a large range. Note, however, that these are sometimes derived at different evolutionary phases of the SNe, so a close comparison should not be made.

We suspect that the different light-curve shapes of SNe IIn are closely related to their progenitor properties. Relevant factors may be the density, structure, and radial distance of the circumstellar medium, the mass and composition of the progenitor, and so forth.

### 3.14 Contamination of SN Light in Template Images

The two vertical dotted lines in Figure 6 mark one and two years after maximum light. It can be seen that the SNe declined 0.3 to 7.3 mag in the $`V`$ band, and 0.3 to 6.2 mag in the $`I`$ band at one year after discovery, while they declined 0.6 to 8.5 mag in the $`V`$ band, and 0.8 to 8.3 mag in the $`I`$ band at two years after discovery. These numbers indicate that the template images for these SNe IIn taken at one and two years after discovery will have different degrees of contamination from the SN light. For the extreme case of SN 1995N, which had declined only 0.6 mag in the $`V`$ band and 0.8 mag in the $`I`$ band by two years after discovery, the template images are seriously contaminated by the SN. While SN 1995N is at a fortunate location without a complicated background and the point-spread-function technique used to derive the photometry reported in § 3.1 is adequate, other SNe having similar behavior may not be so fortunate and it will take a very long time to obtain template images without significant contamination from the SN light. On the other hand, SN 1998S declined 7.3 mag in the $`V`$ band and 6.2 mag in the $`I`$ band by one year after discovery, which means the SN was only 0.30% and 0.33% of the peak $`V`$ and $`I`$-band brightness, respectively; thus, the images taken one year after discovery will be good templates for those taken around maximum light.

We have well-defined late-time light curves for a few other SNe in our sample. For SN Ia 2000cx, we measured a decline of 9.0 mag in the $`R`$ band and 8.1 mag in the $`I`$ band by one year after discovery, which indicates that the late-time templates are not seriously contaminated by the SN light. For SN II-P 1999gi, we measured a decline of 4.6 mag in the $`V`$ band by one year after discovery, when the SN was about 1.5% of its peak brightness. High-precision photometry of SNe II-P thus requires the template images to be taken at a time considerably later than one year after discovery.

## 4 CONCLUSIONS

In this paper we present 12 SNe recovered in the $`HST`$ Cycle 9 Snapshot program GO-8602. $`HST`$ photometry was obtained for the SNe, and the data were tied to early-time ground-based observations, in order to study the late-time evolution of various types of SNe. Much of the ground-based data presented here are previously unpublished, and were obtained primarily with the Katzman Automatic Imaging Telescope.

The successful detection of SN 1996cb, a SN IIb, more than 4 years after discovery suggests the existence of interaction between the SN ejecta and the circumstellar medium. The peculiar SN Ic 1997ef, a “hypernova,” is found to decline slowly between 100 and 1200 days after discovery. Two bright SN II-P discovered in 1999, SNe 1999gi and 1999gq, are also both recovered in the Snapshot observations.

We find that there is a diversity in the late-time evolution of SNe IIn, perhaps due to differences in circumstellar interaction. Some decline monotonically, such as SN 1999eb within the first 660 days following maximum brightness. Others experience multiple changes in their decline rate, such as SNe 1998S, 1999el, and 2000P. SN 1995N fades very slowly, declining by only 1.2 mag in $`V`$ over $`1400`$ days following discovery. Thus, template images of some SNe must be obtained many years after the explosion, to minimize contamination from the SN itself.

SN 1997bs, a subluminous SN IIn that was suggested by Van Dyk et al.(2000) to be a superoutburst of a massive luminous blue variable, is only marginally detected in the F555W observations and not at all in the two F814W images, casting some doubt on the hypothesis that the progenitor survived the explosion. SN 1999bw, an object similar to SN 1997bs in terms of its spectrum and peak luminosity, showed a slower late-time decline rate than SN 1997bs.

SN 2000cx is the only SN Ia recovered in the Snapshot observations. Both the $`R`$-band and $`I`$-band decline rates are found to decrease at late times, but we do not believe this is due to a light echo.

Circumstellar interaction is apparently very common in the late-time evolution of core-collapse SNe, such as SNe IIn, SNe IIb, and possibly some SNe II-P and SNe Ic.

We thank the staff of the Lick Observatory for their assistance, and we acknowledge useful conversations with M. W. Richmond and R. Chornock. We also thank P. Garnavich, A. Pastorello, M. Turatto, and B. Schaefer for providing us with their calibrations of the SN 1995N field. Support for proposal number GO-8602 was provided by NASA through a grant from the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by AURA, Inc., under NASA contract NAS 5-26555; additional funding was provided by NASA grants GO-8648 and GO-9114. The work of A.V.F.’s group at the University of California, Berkeley is also supported by National Science Foundation grant AST-9987438, as well as by the Sylvia and Jim Katzman Foundation. KAIT was made possible by generous donations from Sun Microsystems, Inc., the Hewlett-Packard Company, AutoScope Corporation, Lick Observatory, the National Science Foundation, the University of California, and the Katzman Foundation. A.V.F. is grateful to the Guggenheim Foundation for a Fellowship.