The transitional gap transient AT 2018hso: new insights into the luminous red nova phenomenon

Context. The absolute magnitudes of luminous red novae (LRNe) are intermediate between those of novae and supernovae (SNe), and show a relatively homogeneous spectro-photometric evolution. Although they were thought to derive from core instabilities in single stars, there is growing support for the idea that they are triggered by binary interaction that possibly ends with the merging of the two stars. Aims. AT 2018hso is a new transient showing transitional properties between those of LRNe and the class of intermediate-luminosity red transients (ILRTs) similar to SN 2008S. Through the detailed analysis of the observed parameters, our study supports that it actually belongs to the LRN class and was likely produced by the coalescence of two massive stars. Methods. We obtained ten months of optical and near-infrared photometric monitoring, and 11 epochs of low-resolution optical spectroscopy of AT 2018hso. We compared its observed properties with those of other ILRTs and LRNe. We also inspected the archival Hubble Space Telescope (HST) images obtained about 15 years ago to constrain the progenitor properties. Results. The light curves of AT 2018hso show a first sharp peak (reddening-corrected M-r = -13.93 mag), followed by a broader and shallower second peak that resembles a plateau in the optical bands. The spectra dramatically change with time. Early-time spectra show prominent Balmer emission lines and a weak [Ca II] doublet, which is usually observed in ILRTs. However, the strong decrease in the continuum temperature, the appearance of narrow metal absorption lines, the great change in the H alpha strength and profile, and the emergence of molecular bands support an LRN classification. The possible detection of a M-I similar to -8 mag source at the position of AT 2018hso in HST archive images is consistent with expectations for a pre-merger massive binary, similar to the precursor of the 2015 LRN in M101. Conclusions. We provide reasonable arguments to support an LRN classification for AT 2018hso. This study reveals growing heterogeneity in the observables of LRNe than has been thought previously, which is a challenge for distinguishing between LRNe and ILRTs. This suggests that the entire evolution of gap transients needs to be monitored to avoid misclassifications

Hidden shock powering the peak of SN 2020faa

The link between the fate of the most massive stars and the resulting supernova (SN) explosion is still a matter of debate, in major part because of the ambiguity among light-curve powering mechanisms. When stars explode as SNe, the light-curve luminosity is typically sustained by a central engine (radioactive decay, magnetar spin-down, or fallback accretion). However, since massive stars eject considerable amounts of material during their evolution, there may be a significant contribution coming from interactions with the previously ejected circumstellar medium (CSM). Reconstructing the progenitor configuration at the time of explosion requires a detailed analysis of the long-term photometric and spectroscopic evolution of the related transient. In this paper, we present the results of our follow-up campaign of SN 2020faa. Given the high luminosity and peculiar slow light curve, it is purported to have a massive progenitor. We present the spectro-photometric dataset and investigate different options to explain the unusual observed properties that support this assumption. We computed the bolometric luminosity of the supernova and the evolution of its temperature, radius, and expansion velocity. We also fit the observed light curve with a multi-component model to infer information on the progenitor and the explosion mechanism. Reasonable parameters are inferred for SN 2020faa with a magnetar of energy Ep=1.5(+0.5,-0.2)x10^50 erg and spin-down time t(spin)=15+/-1 d, a shell mass M(shell)=2.4(+0.5,-0.4) Msun and kinetic energy Ekin(shell)=0.9(+0.5,-0.3)x 10^51 erg, and a core with M(core)=21.5(+1.4,-0.7) Msun and Ekin(core)=3.9(+0.1,-0.4)x10^51 erg. In addition, we need an extra source to power the luminosity of the second peak. We find that hidden interaction with either a CSM disc or delayed, choked jets is a viable mechanism for supplying the required energy to achieve this effect.Comment: 14 pages, 14 figures. Accepted to Astronomy & Astrophysic

Low luminosity Type II supernovae - IV. SN 2020cxd and SN 2021aai, at the edges of the sub-luminous supernovae class

Photometric and spectroscopic data for two Low Luminosity Type IIP Supernovae (LL SNe IIP) 2020cxd and 2021aai are presented. SN 2020cxd was discovered 2 d after explosion at an absolute magnitude of Mr = -14.02 ± 0.21 mag, subsequently settling on a plateau which lasts for ∼120 d. Through the luminosity of the late light curve tail, we infer a synthesized 56Ni mass of (1.8 ± 0.5) × 10-3 M⊙. During the early evolutionary phases, optical spectra show a blue continuum ($T\, \gt$8000 K) with broad Balmer lines displaying a P Cygni profile, while at later phases, Ca ii, Fe ii, Sc ii, and Ba ii lines dominate the spectra. Hydrodynamical modelling of the observables yields $R\, \simeq$ 575 R⊙ for the progenitor star, with Mej = 7.5 M⊙ and $E\, \simeq$ 0.097 foe emitted during the explosion. This low-energy event originating from a low-mass progenitor star is compatible with both the explosion of a red supergiant (RSG) star and with an Electron Capture Supernova arising from a super asymptotic giant branch star. SN 2021aai reaches a maximum luminosity of Mr = -16.57 ± 0.23 mag (correcting for AV = 1.92 mag), at the end of its remarkably long plateau (∼140 d). The estimated 56Ni mass is (1.4 ± 0.5) × 10-2 M⊙. The expansion velocities are compatible with those of other LL SNe IIP (few 103 km s-1). The physical parameters obtained through hydrodynamical modelling are $R\, \simeq$ 575 R⊙, Mej = 15.5 M⊙, and E = 0.4 foe. SN 2021aai is therefore interpreted as the explosion of an RSG, with properties that bridge the class of LL SNe IIP with standard SN IIP events.GV acknowledges INAF for funding his PhD fellowship within the PhD School in Astronomy at the University of Padova. MLP acknowledges support from the plan ‘programma ricerca di ateneo UNICT 2020-22 linea 2” of the University of Catania. AR acknowledges support from ANID BECAS/DOCTORADO NACIONAL 21202412. NER acknowledges partial support from MIUR, PRIN 2017 (grant 20179ZF5KS), from the Spanish MICINN grant PID2019-108709GB-I00 and FEDER funds, and from the programme Unidad de Excelencia María de Maeztu CEX2020-001058-M. LG acknowledges financial support from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MCIN), the Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) 10.13039/501100011033, and the European Social Fund (ESF) ‘Investing in your future’ under the 2019 Ramón y Cajal programme RYC2019-027683-I and the PID2020-115253GA-I00 HOSTFLOWS project, from Centro Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) under the PIE project 20215AT016, and the programme Unidad de Excelencia María de Maeztu CEX2020-001058-M. TMB acknowledges financial support from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MCIN), the Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) 10.13039/501100011033 under the PID2020-115253GA-I00 HOSTFLOWS project, and from Centro Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) under the PIE project 20215AT016, and the programme Unidad de Excelencia María de Maeztu CEX2020-001058-M. Y-ZC is funded by China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (grant no. 2021M691821

SN 2021foa, a transitional event between a Type IIn (SN 2009ip-like) and a Type Ibn supernova

We present photometric and spectroscopic data of the unusual interacting supernova (SN) 2021foa. It rose to an absolute magnitude peak of M-r & x2004;=& x2004;-18 mag in 20 days. The initial light curve decline shows some luminosity fluctuations before a long-lasting flattening. A faint source (M-r & x2004;similar to & x2004;-14 mag) was detected in the weeks preceding the main event, showing a slowly rising luminosity trend. The r-band absolute light curve is very similar to those of SN 2009ip-like events, with a faint and shorter duration brightening ('Event A') followed by a much brighter peak ('Event B'). The early spectra of SN 2021foa show a blue continuum with narrow (similar to 400 km s(-1)) H emission lines that, two weeks later, reveal a complex profile, with a narrow P Cygni on top of an intermediate-width (similar to 2700 km s(-1)) component. At +12 days, metal lines in emission appear and He I lines become very strong, with He I lambda 5876 reaching half of the H alpha luminosity, much higher than in previous SN 2009ip-like objects. We propose that SN 2021foa is a transitional event between the H-rich SN 2009ip-like SNe and the He-rich Type Ibn SNe

SN 2021foa, a transitional event between a Type IIn (SN 2009ip-like) and a Type Ibn supernova

We present photometric and spectroscopic data of the unusual interacting supernova (SN) 2021foa. It rose to an absolute magnitude peak of Mr= 18 mag in 20 days. The initial light curve decline shows some luminosity fluctuations before a long-lasting flattening. A faint source (Mr∼ 14 mag) was detected in the weeks preceding the main event, showing a slowly rising luminosity trend. The r-band absolute light curve is very similar to those of SN 2009ip-like events, with a faint and shorter duration brightening ('Event A') followed by a much brighter peak ('Event B'). The early spectra of SN 2021foa show a blue continuum with narrow (∼400 km s1) H emission lines that, two weeks later, reveal a complex profile, with a narrow P Cygni on top of an intermediate-width (∼2700 km s1) component. At +12 days, metal lines in emission appear and Hea lines become very strong, with Hea λ5876 reaching half of the Hα luminosity, much higher than in previous SN 2009ip-like objects. We propose that SN 2021foa is a transitional event between the H-rich SN 2009ip-like SNe and the He-rich Type Ibn SNe

The transitional gap transient AT 2018hso: new insights into the luminous red nova phenomenon

Context. The absolute magnitudes of luminous red novae (LRNe) are intermediate between those of novae and supernovae (SNe), and show a relatively homogeneous spectro-photometric evolution. Although they were thought to derive from core instabilities in single stars, there is growing support for the idea that they are triggered by binary interaction that possibly ends with the merging of the two stars. Aims: AT 2018hso is a new transient showing transitional properties between those of LRNe and the class of intermediate-luminosity red transients (ILRTs) similar to SN 2008S. Through the detailed analysis of the observed parameters, our study supports that it actually belongs to the LRN class and was likely produced by the coalescence of two massive stars. Methods: We obtained ten months of optical and near-infrared photometric monitoring, and 11 epochs of low-resolution optical spectroscopy of AT 2018hso. We compared its observed properties with those of other ILRTs and LRNe. We also inspected the archival Hubble Space Telescope (HST) images obtained about 15 years ago to constrain the progenitor properties. Results: The light curves of AT 2018hso show a first sharp peak (reddening-corrected Mr = -13.93 mag), followed by a broader and shallower second peak that resembles a plateau in the optical bands. The spectra dramatically change with time. Early-time spectra show prominent Balmer emission lines and a weak [Ca II] doublet, which is usually observed in ILRTs. However, the strong decrease in the continuum temperature, the appearance of narrow metal absorption lines, the great change in the Hα strength and profile, and the emergence of molecular bands support an LRN classification. The possible detection of a MI ̃ -8 mag source at the position of AT 2018hso in HST archive images is consistent with expectations for a pre-merger massive binary, similar to the precursor of the 2015 LRN in M101. Conclusions: We provide reasonable arguments to support an LRN classification for AT 2018hso. This study reveals growing heterogeneity in the observables of LRNe than has been thought previously, which is a challenge for distinguishing between LRNe and ILRTs. This suggests that the entire evolution of gap transients needs to be monitored to avoid misclassifications. The light curves and the reduced spectra are only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (ftp://130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/cat/J/A+A/632/L6</a

Low luminosity Type II supernovae - IV. SN 2020cxd and SN 2021aai, at the edges of the sub-luminous supernovae class

Photometric and spectroscopic data for two Low Luminosity Type IIP Supernovae (LL SNe IIP) 2020cxd and 2021aai are presented. SN 2020cxd was discovered 2 d after explosion at an absolute magnitude of M-r = -14.02 +/- 0.21 mag, subsequently settling on a plateau which lasts for similar to 120 d. Through the luminosity of the late light curve tail, we infer a synthesized Ni-56 mass of (1.8 +/- 0.5) x 10(-3) M-circle dot. During the early evolutionary phases, optical spectra show a blue continuum (T > 8000 K) with broad Balmer lines displaying a P Cygni profile, while at later phases, Ca II, Fe II, Sc II, and Ba II lines dominate the spectra. Hydrodynamical modelling of the observables yields R similar or equal to 575 R-circle dot for the progenitor star, with M-ej = 7.5 M-circle dot and E similar or equal to 0.097 foe emitted during the explosion. This low-energy event originating from a low-mass progenitor star is compatible with both the explosion of a red supergiant (RSG) star and with an Electron Capture Supernova arising from a super asymptotic giant branch star. SN 2021aai reaches a maximum luminosity of M-r = -16.57 +/- 0.23 mag (correcting for A(V) = 1.92 mag), at the end of its remarkably long plateau (similar to 140 d). The estimated Ni-56 mass is (1.4 +/- 0.5) x 10(-2) M-circle dot. The expansion velocities are compatible with those of other LL SNe IIP (few 10(3) km s(-1)). The physical parameters obtained through hydrodynamical modelling are R similar or equal to 575 R-circle dot, M-ej = 15.5 M-circle dot, and E = 0.4 foe. SN 2021aai is therefore interpreted as the explosion of an RSG, with properties that bridge the class of LL SNe IIP with standard SN IIP events.</p

Observations of the luminous red nova AT 2021biy in the nearby galaxy NGC 4631

We present an observational study of the luminous red nova (LRN) AT\,2021biy in the nearby galaxy NGC\,4631. The field of the object was routinely imaged during the pre-eruptive stage by synoptic surveys, but the transient was detected only at a few epochs from $\sim 231$\,days before maximum brightness. The LRN outburst was monitored with unprecedented cadence both photometrically and spectroscopically. AT\,2021biy shows a short-duration blue peak, with a bolometric luminosity of $\sim 1.6 \times 10^{41}$\,erg\,s$^{-1}$, followed by the longest plateau among LRNe to date, with a duration of 210\,days. A late-time hump in the light curve was also observed, possibly produced by a shell-shell collision. AT\,2021biy exhibits the typical spectral evolution of LRNe. Early-time spectra are characterised by a blue continuum and prominent H emission lines. Then, the continuum becomes redder, resembling that of a K-type star with a forest of metal absorption lines during the plateau phase. Finally, late-time spectra show a very red continuum ($T_{\mathrm{BB}} \approx 2050$ K) with molecular features (e.g., TiO) resembling those of M-type stars. Spectropolarimetric analysis indicates that AT\,2021biy has local dust properties similar to those of V838\,Mon in the Milky Way Galaxy. Inspection of archival {\it Hubble Space Telescope} data taken on 2003 August 3 reveals a $\sim 20$\,\msun\ progenitor candidate with log\,$(L/{\rm L}_{\odot}) = 5.0$\,dex and $T_{\rm{eff}} = 5900$\,K at solar metallicity. The above luminosity and colour match those of a luminous yellow supergiant. Most likely, this source is a close binary, with a 17--24\,\msun\ primary component.Comment: 21 pages, 14 figures. Accepted by Astronomy and Astrophysic

SN 2020wnt: a slow-evolving carbon-rich superluminous supernova with no O II lines and a bumpy light curve

We present the analysis of SN 2020wnt, an unusual hydrogen-poor superluminous supernova (SLSN-I), at a redshift of 0.032. The light curves of SN 2020wnt are characterized by an early bump lasting similar to 5 d, followed by a bright main peak. The SN reaches a peak absolute magnitude of M-r(max) = -20.52 +/- 0.03 mag at similar to 77.5 d from explosion. This magnitude is at the lower end of the luminosity distribution of SLSNe-I, but the rise-time is one of the longest reported to date. Unlike other SLSNe-I, the spectra of SN 2020wnt do not show O II, but strong lines of C II and Si II are detected. Spectroscopically, SN 2020wnt resembles the Type Ic SN 2007gr, but its evolution is significantly slower. Comparing the bolometric light curve to hydrodynamical models, we find that SN 2020wnt luminosity can be explained by radioactive powering. The progenitor of SN 2020wnt is likely a massive and extended star with a pre-SN mass of 80 M-circle dot and a pre-SN radius of 15 R-circle dot that experiences a very energetic explosion of 45 x 10(51) erg, producing 4 M-circle dot of Ni-56. In this framework, the first peak results from a post-shock cooling phase for an extended progenitor, and the luminous main peak is due to a large nickel production. These characteristics are compatible with the pair-instability SN scenario. We note, however, that a significant contribution of interaction with circumstellar material cannot be ruled out