Early Observations And Analysis Of The Type Ia SN 2014J In M82

We present optical and near infrared (NIR) observations of the nearby Type Ia SN 2014J. Seventeen optical and 23 NIR spectra were obtained from 10 days before (-10d) to 10 days after (+10d) the time of maximum B-band brightness. The relative strengths of absorption features and their patterns of development can be compared at one day intervals throughout most of this period. Carbon is not detected in the optical spectra, but we identify C I lambda 1.0693 in the NIR spectra. Mg II lines with high oscillator strengths have higher initial velocities than other Mg II lines. We show that the velocity differences can be explained by differences in optical depths due to oscillator strengths. The spectra of SN 2014J show that it is a normal SN Ia, but many parameters are near the boundaries between normal and high-velocity subclasses. The velocities for OI, Mg II, Si II, S Ca a, and Fell suggest that SN 2014J has a layered structure with little or no mixing. That result is consistent with the delayed detonation explosion models. We also report photometric observations, obtained from -10d to +29d, in the UBVRIJH and K-s bands. The template fitting package SNooPy is used to interpret the light curves and to derive photometric parameters. Using R-v = 1.46, which is consistent with previous studies, SNooPy finds that A(v) = 1.80 for E(B - V)(host) = 1.23 +/- 0.06 mag. The maximum B-band brightness of -19.19 +/- 0.10 mag was reached on February 1.74 UT +/- 0.13 days and the supernova has a decline parameter, Delta m(15), of 1.12 +/- 0.02 mag.Department of Space, Government of IndiaHungarian OTKA NN-107637NSF AST-1109801, AST-1151462, AST-1211196NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowship AST-1302771NASA through a grant from the Space Telescope Science Institute GO-12540NASA NAS5-26555Swedish Research CouncilSwedish National Space BoardDanish Agency for Science and Technology and Innovation realized through a Sapere Aude Level 2 grantAstronom

The Broad-Lined Type Ic SN 2012ap And The Nature Of Relativistic Supernovae Lacking A Gamma-Ray Burst Detection

We present ultraviolet, optical, and near-infrared observations of SN 2012ap, a broad-lined Type Ic supernova in the galaxy NGC 1729 that produced a relativistic and rapidly decelerating outflow without a gamma-ray burst signature. Photometry and spectroscopy follow the flux evolution from -13 to +272 days past the B-band maximum of -17.4 +/- 0.5mag. The spectra are dominated by Fe II, OI, and Ca II absorption lines at ejecta velocities of nu approximate to 20,000 km s(-1) that change slowly over time. Other spectral absorption lines are consistent with contributions from photospheric He I, and hydrogen may also be present at higher velocities (nu greater than or similar to 27,000 km s(-1)). We use these observations to estimate explosion properties and derive a total ejecta mass of similar to 2.7 M-circle dot, a kinetic energy of similar to 1.0 x 10(52) erg, and a Ni-56 mass of 0.1-0.2 M-circle dot. Nebular spectra (t > 200 days) exhibit an asymmetric double-peaked [O I] lambda lambda 6300, 6364 emission profile that we associate with absorption in the supernova interior, although toroidal ejecta geometry is an alternative explanation. SN 2012ap joins SN2009bb as another exceptional supernova that shows evidence for a central engine (e. g., black hole accretion or magnetar) capable of launching a non-negligible portion of ejecta to relativistic velocities without a coincident gamma-ray burst detection. Defining attributes of their progenitor systems may be related to notable observed properties including environmental metallicities of Z greater than or similar to Z(circle dot), moderate to high levels of host galaxy extinction (E(B - V) > 0.4mag), detection of high-velocity helium at early epochs, and a high relative flux ratio of [Ca II]/[O I] > 1 at nebular epochs. These events support the notion that jet activity at various energy scales may be present in a wide range of supernovae.W.M. Keck FoundationDavid and Lucile Packard FoundationNSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowship AST-1302771NSF AST-1211196, AST-1109801, AST-1211916, AST-1008343, PHYS-1066293Richard and Rhoda Goldman FundChristopher R. Redlich FundTABASGO FoundationWorld Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI Initiative), MEXT, JapanHungarian OTKA NN-107637Danish Agency for Science and Technology and Innovation2374014126800100Astronom