607 research outputs found
High luminosity, slow ejecta and persistent carbon lines: SN 2009dc challenges thermonuclear explosion scenarios
Extended optical and near-IR observations reveal that SN 2009dc shares a number of similarities with normal Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia), but is clearly overluminous, with a (pseudo-bolometric) peak luminosity of log (L) = 43.47 (erg s^(−1)). Its light curves decline slowly over half a year after maximum light [Δm_(15)(B)_true= 0.71], and the early-time near-IR light curves show secondary maxima, although the minima between the first and the second peaks are not very pronounced. The bluer bands exhibit an enhanced fading after ~200 d, which might be caused by dust formation or an unexpectedly early IR catastrophe. The spectra of SN 2009dc are dominated by intermediate-mass elements and unburned material at early times, and by iron-group elements at late phases. Strong C ii lines are present until ~2 weeks past maximum, which is unprecedented in thermonuclear SNe. The ejecta velocities are significantly lower than in normal and even subluminous SNe Ia. No signatures of interaction with a circumstellar medium (CSM) are found in the spectra. Assuming that the light curves are powered by radioactive decay, analytic modelling suggests that SN 2009dc produced ~1.8 M_⊙ of ^(56)Ni assuming the smallest possible rise time of 22 d. Together with a derived total ejecta mass of ~2.8 M_⊙, this confirms that SN 2009dc is a member of the class of possible super-Chandrasekhar-mass SNe Ia similar to SNe 2003fg, 2006gz and 2007if. A study of the hosts of SN 2009dc and other superluminous SNe Ia reveals a tendency of these SNe to explode in low-mass galaxies. A low metallicity of the progenitor may therefore be an important prerequisite for producing superluminous SNe Ia. We discuss a number of possible explosion scenarios, ranging from super-Chandrasekhar-mass white-dwarf progenitors over dynamical white-dwarf mergers and Type I(1/2) SNe to a core-collapse origin of the explosion. None of the models seems capable of explaining all properties of SN 2009dc, so that the true nature of this SN and its peers remains nebulous
The Progenitors of Recent Core-Collapse Supernovae
We present the results of our analysis of Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and deep ground-based images to isolate the massive progenitor stars of the two recent core-collapse supernovae 2008 bk and 2008 cn. The identification of the progenitors is facilitated in one of these two cases by high-precision astrometry based on our HST imaging of SNe at late times
SN 2013df, a double-peaked IIb supernova from a compact progenitor and an extended H envelope
Optical observations of the type IIb SN 2013df from a few days to about 250
days after explosion are presented. These observations are complemented with UV
photometry taken by \textit{SWIFT} up to 60 days post-explosion. The
double-peak optical light curve is similar to those of SNe 1993J and 2011fu
although with different decline and rise rates. From the modelling of the
bolometric light curve, we have estimated that the total mass of synthesised
Ni in the explosion is M, while the ejecta mass is
M and the explosion energy erg. In
addition, we have estimated a lower limit to the progenitor radius ranging from
. The spectral evolution indicates that SN 2013df had a
hydrogen envelope similar to SN 1993J ( M). The line
profiles in nebular spectra suggest that the explosion was asymmetric with the
presence of clumps in the ejecta, while the [O\,{\sc i}]
, luminosities, may indicate that the progenitor
of SN 2013df was a relatively low mass star ( M).Comment: 18 pages, 11 figures, 9 tables, accepted for publication in MNRA
The Type IIn Supernova SN 2010bt: The Explosion of a Star in Outburst
Indexación: Scopus.It is well known that massive stars (M > 8 M ) evolve up to the collapse of the stellar core, resulting in most cases in a supernova (SN) explosion. Their heterogeneity is related mainly to different configurations of the progenitor star at the moment of the explosion and to their immediate environments. We present photometry and spectroscopy of SN 2010bt, which was classified as a Type IIn SN from a spectrum obtained soon after discovery and was observed extensively for about 2 months. After the seasonal interruption owing to its proximity to the Sun, the SN was below the detection threshold, indicative of a rapid luminosity decline. We can identify the likely progenitor with a very luminous star (log L/L ≈ 7) through comparison of Hubble Space Telescope images of the host galaxy prior to explosion with those of the SN obtained after maximum light. Such a luminosity is not expected for a quiescent star, but rather for a massive star in an active phase. This progenitor candidate was later confirmed via images taken in 2015 (∼5 yr post-discovery), in which no bright point source was detected at the SN position. Given these results and the SN behavior, we conclude that SN 2010bt was likely a Type IIn SN and that its progenitor was a massive star that experienced an outburst shortly before the final explosion, leading to a dense H-rich circumstellar environment around the SN progenitor. © 2018. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/aac51
Explosion of a massive, He-rich star at z=0.16
We present spectroscopic and photometric data of the peculiar SN 2001gh,
discovered by the 'Southern inTermediate Redshift ESO Supernova Search'
(STRESS) at a redshift z=0.16. SN 2001gh has relatively high luminosity at
maximum (M_B = -18.55 mag), while the light curve shows a broad peak. An
early-time spectrum shows an almost featureless, blue continuum with a few weak
and shallow P-Cygni lines that we attribute to HeI. HeI lines remain the only
spectral features visible in a subsequent spectrum, obtained one month later. A
remarkable property of SN 2001gh is the lack of significant spectral evolution
over the temporal window of nearly one month separating the two spectra. In
order to explain the properties of SN 2001gh, three powering mechanism are
explored, including radioactive decays of a moderately large amount of 56Ni,
magnetar spin-down, and interaction of SN ejecta with circumstellar medium. We
favour the latter scenario, with a SN Ib wrapped in a dense, circumstellar
shell. The fact that no models provide an excellent fit with observations,
confirms the troublesome interpretation of the nature of SN 2001gh. A rate
estimate for SN 2001gh-like event is also provided, confirming the intrinsic
rarity of these objects.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures, 3 tables. Accepted by MNRA
Moderately Luminous type II Supernovae
Core-collapse Supernovae (CC-SNe) descend from progenitors more massive than
about 8 Msun. Because of the young age of the progenitors, the ejecta may
eventually interact with the circumstellar medium (CSM) via highly energetic
processes detectable in the radio, X-ray, ultraviolet (UV) and, sometimes, in
the optical domains. In this paper we present ultraviolet, optical and near
infrared observations of five type II SNe, namely SNe 2009dd, 2007pk, 2010aj,
1995ad, and 1996W. Together with few other SNe they form a group of moderately
luminous type II events. We collected photometry and spectroscopy with several
telescopes in order to construct well-sampled light curves and spectral
evolutions from the photospheric to the nebular phases. Both photometry and
spectroscopy indicate a degree of heterogeneity in this sample. The light
curves have luminous peak magnitudes (). The ejected
masses of ^56\ni for three SNe span a wide range of values
(MsunM(\ni)Msun), while for a fourth
(SN2010aj) we could determine a stringent upper limit (Msun).
Clues of interaction, such as the presence of high velocity (HV) features of
the Balmer lines, are visible in the photospheric spectra of SNe 2009dd and
1996W. For SN2007pk we observe a spectral transition from a type IIn to a
standard type II SN. Modelling the observations of SNe 2009dd, 2010aj and
1995ad with radiation hydrodynamics codes, we infer kinetic plus thermal
energies of about 0.2-0.5 foe, initial radii of 2-5 cm and
ejected masses of 5.0-9.5 Msun. These values suggest moderate-mass,
super-asymptotic giant branch (SAGB) or red super-giants (RSG) stars as SN
precursors, in analogy with other luminous type IIP SNe 2007od and 2009bw.Comment: 28 pages, 27 fig, accepted by A&A, 3 pages of online material,
abstract abridged. revised significantly with respect to the previous versio
The supernova impostor PSN J09132750+7627410 and its progenitor
We report the results of our follow-up campaign of the supernova impostor PSN
J09132750+7627410, based on optical data covering . From the
beginning, the transient shows prominent narrow Balmer lines with P-Cygni
profiles, with a blue-shifted absorption component becoming more prominent with
time. Along the of the spectroscopic monitoring, broad
components are never detected in the hydrogen lines, suggesting that these
features are produced in slowly expanding material. The transient reaches an
absolute magnitude at maximum, a typical
luminosity for supernova impostors. Amateur astronomers provided
of archival observations of the host galaxy, NGC 2748. The
detection of the quiescent progenitor star in archival images obtained with the
Hubble Space Telescope suggests it to be an \msun white-yellow
supergiant.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, supplemental material available in the source
file. Accepted for publication on Astrophysical Journal Letter
The Type IIP SN 2007od in UGC 12846: from a bright maximum to dust formation in the nebular phase
Ultraviolet (UV), optical and near infrared (NIR) observations of the type
IIP supernova (SN) 2007od are presented, covering from the maximum light to the
late phase, allowing to investigate in detail different physical phenomena in
the expanding ejecta. These data turn this object into one of the most peculiar
IIP ever studied. The early light curve of SN 2007od is similar to that of a
bright IIPs with a short plateau, a bright peak (MV = -18 mag), but a very
faint optical light curve at late time. However, with the inclusion of mid
infrared (MIR) observations during the radioactive decay we have estimate a
M(56Ni) ~ 2\times10^-2 M\odot. Modeling the bolometric light curve, ejecta
expansion velocities and black-body temperature, we estimate a total ejected
mass was 5 - 7.5 M\odot with a kinetic energy of at least 0.5 \times 10^51 erg.
The early spectra reveal a boxy H{\alpha} profile and high velocities features
of the Balmer series that suggest interaction between the ejecta and a close
circum-stellar matter (CSM). SN 2007od may be, therefore, an intermediate case
between a Type IIn SN and a typical Type IIP SN. Also late spectra show a clear
evidence of CSM and the presence of dust formed inside the ejecta. The episodes
of mass loss short before explosion, the bright plateau, along with the
relatively small amount of 56Ni and the faint [O I] observed in the nebular
spectra are consistent with a super-asympthotic giant branch (super-AGB)
progenitor (M~9.7 - 11 M\odot).Comment: V2, some test added and three figures changed from the first version.
21 pages, 18 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS on May 24, 201
Interpreting the near-infrared spectra of the 'golden standard' Type Ia supernova 2005cf
We present nine near-infrared (NIR) spectra of supernova (SN) 2005cf at
epochs from -10 d to +42 d with respect to B-band maximum, complementing the
existing excellent data sets available for this prototypical Type Ia SN at
other wavelengths. The spectra show a time evolution and spectral features
characteristic of normal Type Ia SNe, as illustrated by a comparison with SNe
1999ee, 2002bo and 2003du. The broad-band spectral energy distribution (SED) of
SN 2005cf is studied in combined ultraviolet (UV), optical and NIR spectra at
five epochs between ~ 8 d before and ~ 10 d after maximum light. We also
present synthetic spectra of the hydrodynamic explosion model W7, which
reproduce the key properties of SN 2005cf not only at UV-optical as previously
reported, but also at NIR wavelengths. From the radiative-transfer calculations
we infer that fluorescence is the driving mechanism that shapes the SED of SNe
Ia. In particular, the NIR part of the spectrum is almost devoid of absorption
features, and instead dominated by fluorescent emission of both iron-group
material and intermediate-mass elements at pre-maximum epochs, and pure
iron-group material after maximum light. A single P-Cygni feature of Mg II at
early epochs and a series of relatively unblended Co II lines at late phases
allow us to constrain the regions of the ejecta in which the respective
elements are abundant.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
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