A Model for the Fast Blue Optical Transient AT2018cow: Circumstellar Interaction of a Pulsational Pair-instability Supernova

The fast blue optical transient (FBOT) ATLAS18qqn (AT2018cow) has a light curve as bright as that of superluminous supernovae (SLSNe) but rises and falls much faster. We model this light curve by circumstellar interaction of a pulsational pair-instability (PPI) supernova (SN) model based on our PPISN models studied in previous work. We focus on the 42 M_⊙ He star (core of a 80 M_⊙ star) which has circumstellar matter (CSM) of mass 0.50 M_⊙. With the parameterized mass cut and the kinetic energy of explosion E, we perform hydrodynamical calculations of nucleosynthesis and optical light curves of PPISN models. The optical light curve of the first ~20 days of AT2018cow is well reproduced by the shock heating of CSM for the 42 M_⊙ He star with E = 5 × 10⁵¹ erg. After day 20, the light curve is reproduced by the radioactive decay of 0.6 M_⊙⁵⁶Co, which is a decay product of ⁵⁶Ni in the explosion. We also examine how the light-curve shape depends on the various model parameters, such as CSM structure and composition. We also discuss (1) other possible energy sources and their constraints, (2) the origin of the observed high-energy radiation, and (3) how our result depends on the radiative transfer codes. Based on our successful model for AT2018cow and the model for SLSN with CSM mass as large as 20 M⊙, we propose the working hypothesis that PPISN produces SLSNe if the CSM is massive enough and FBOTs if CSM is less than ~1 M_⊙

Observations of SN 2017ein Reveal Shock Breakout Emission and A Massive Progenitor Star for a Type Ic Supernova

We present optical and ultraviolet observations of nearby type Ic supernova SN 2017ein as well as detailed analysis of its progenitor properties from both the early-time observations and the prediscovery Hubble Space Telescope (HST) images. The optical light curves started from within one day to $\sim$275 days after explosion, and optical spectra range from $\sim$2 days to $\sim$90 days after explosion. Compared to other normal SNe Ic like SN 2007gr and SN 2013ge, \mbox{SN 2017ein} seems to have more prominent C{\footnotesize II} absorption and higher expansion velocities in early phases, suggestive of relatively lower ejecta mass. The earliest photometry obtained for \mbox{SN 2017ein} show indications of shock cooling. The best-fit obtained by including a shock cooling component gives an estimate of the envelope mass as $\sim$0.02 M$_{\odot}$ and stellar radius as 8$\pm$4 R$_{\odot}$. Examining the pre-explosion images taken with the HST WFPC2, we find that the SN position coincides with a luminous and blue point-like source, with an extinction-corrected absolute magnitude of M$_V$$\sim$$-$8.2 mag and M$_I$$\sim$$-$7.7 mag.Comparisons of the observations to the theoretical models indicate that the counterpart source was either a single WR star or a binary with whose members had high initial masses, or a young compact star cluster. To further distinguish between different scenarios requires revisiting the site of the progenitor with HST after the SN fades away.Comment: 28 pages, 19 figures; accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journa

Catching Element Formation In The Act

Gamma-ray astronomy explores the most energetic photons in nature to address some of the most pressing puzzles in contemporary astrophysics. It encompasses a wide range of objects and phenomena: stars, supernovae, novae, neutron stars, stellar-mass black holes, nucleosynthesis, the interstellar medium, cosmic rays and relativistic-particle acceleration, and the evolution of galaxies. MeV gamma-rays provide a unique probe of nuclear processes in astronomy, directly measuring radioactive decay, nuclear de-excitation, and positron annihilation. The substantial information carried by gamma-ray photons allows us to see deeper into these objects, the bulk of the power is often emitted at gamma-ray energies, and radioactivity provides a natural physical clock that adds unique information. New science will be driven by time-domain population studies at gamma-ray energies. This science is enabled by next-generation gamma-ray instruments with one to two orders of magnitude better sensitivity, larger sky coverage, and faster cadence than all previous gamma-ray instruments. This transformative capability permits: (a) the accurate identification of the gamma-ray emitting objects and correlations with observations taken at other wavelengths and with other messengers; (b) construction of new gamma-ray maps of the Milky Way and other nearby galaxies where extended regions are distinguished from point sources; and (c) considerable serendipitous science of scarce events -- nearby neutron star mergers, for example. Advances in technology push the performance of new gamma-ray instruments to address a wide set of astrophysical questions.Comment: 14 pages including 3 figure

A Model for the Fast Blue Optical Transient AT2018cow: Circumstellar Interaction of a Pulsational Pair-instability Supernova

The fast blue optical transient (FBOT) ATLAS18qqn (AT2018cow) has a light curve as bright as that of superluminous supernovae (SLSNe) but rises and falls much faster. We model this light curve by circumstellar interaction of a pulsational pair-instability (PPI) supernova (SN) model based on our PPISN models studied in previous work. We focus on the 42 M_⊙ He star (core of a 80 M_⊙ star) which has circumstellar matter (CSM) of mass 0.50 M_⊙. With the parameterized mass cut and the kinetic energy of explosion E, we perform hydrodynamical calculations of nucleosynthesis and optical light curves of PPISN models. The optical light curve of the first ~20 days of AT2018cow is well reproduced by the shock heating of CSM for the 42 M_⊙ He star with E = 5 × 10⁵¹ erg. After day 20, the light curve is reproduced by the radioactive decay of 0.6 M_⊙⁵⁶Co, which is a decay product of ⁵⁶Ni in the explosion. We also examine how the light-curve shape depends on the various model parameters, such as CSM structure and composition. We also discuss (1) other possible energy sources and their constraints, (2) the origin of the observed high-energy radiation, and (3) how our result depends on the radiative transfer codes. Based on our successful model for AT2018cow and the model for SLSN with CSM mass as large as 20 M⊙, we propose the working hypothesis that PPISN produces SLSNe if the CSM is massive enough and FBOTs if CSM is less than ~1 M_⊙