Probing diversity of type II supernovae with the Chinese Space Station Telescope

Type II supernovae (SNe II), which show abundant hydrogen in their spectra, belong to a class of SNe with diverse observed properties. It is commonly accepted that SNe II are produced by core collapse and explosion of massive stars. However, the large photometric and spectroscopic diversity of SNe II, and the mechanisms responsible for these diversities, have not been thoroughly understood. In this review, we first briefly introduce the optical characteristics and possible progenitors of each subtype of SNe II. We then highlight the role of the Chinese Space Station Telescope in future SN studies. With a deep limiting magnitude, the main survey project could detect SN IIP-like objects as distant as $z\sim 1.2$, and obtain UV-optical follow-up for peculiar transients, especially those long-lived events. With a high resolution and a large field of view, the main survey camera is powerful in linking a nearby SN with its progenitor, while the integral field spectrograph is powerful in revealing the SN environment. All this information has the potential to help enrich our understanding of supernova physics

A super-Eddington wind scenario for the progenitors of type Ia supernovae: binary population synthesis calculations

The super-Eddington wind scenario has been proposed as an alternative way for producing type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia). The super-Eddington wind can naturally prevent the carbon--oxygen white dwarfs (CO WDs) with high mass-accretion rates from becoming red-giant-like stars. Furthermore, it works in low-metallicity environments, which may explain SNe Ia observed at high redshifts. In this article, we systematically investigated the most prominent single-degenerate WD+MS channel based on the super-Eddington wind scenario. We combined the Eggleton stellar evolution code with a rapid binary population synthesis (BPS) approach to predict SN Ia birthrates for the WD+MS channel by adopting the super-Eddington wind scenario and detailed mass-accumulation efficiencies of H-shell flashes on the WDs. Our BPS calculations found that the estimated SN Ia birthrates for the WD+MS channel are ~0.009-0.315*10^{-3}{yr}^{-1} if we adopt the Eddington accretion rate as the critical accretion rate, which are much lower than that of the observations (<10% of the observed SN Ia birthrates). This indicates that the WD+MS channel only contributes a small proportion of all SNe Ia. The birthrates in this simulation are lower than previous studies, the main reason of which is that new mass-accumulation efficiencies of H-shell flashes are adopted. We also found that the critical mass-accretion rate has a significant influence on the birthrates of SNe Ia. Meanwhile, the results of our BPS calculations are sensitive to the values of the common-envelope ejection efficiency.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic

A 34.5 day quasi-periodic oscillation in gamma-ray emission from the blazar PKS 2247-131

Since 2016 October, the active galaxy PKS 2247-131 has undergone a gamma-ray outburst, which we studied using data obtained with the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. The emission arises from a relativistic jet in PKS 2247-131, as an optical spectrum only shows a few weak absorption lines, typical of the BL Lacertae sub-class of the blazar class of active galactic nuclei. Here we report a ~34.5 day quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) in the emission after the initial flux peak of the outburst. Compared to one-year time-scale QPOs, previously identified in blazars in Fermi energies, PKS 2247-131 exhibits the first clear case of a relatively short, month-like oscillation. We show that this QPO can be explained in terms of a helical structure in the jet, where the viewing angle to the dominant emission region in the jet undergoes periodic changes. The time scale of the QPO suggests the presence of binary supermassive black holes in PKS 2247-131.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Optical observations of a SN 2002cx-like peculiar supernova SN 2013en in UGC 11369

We present optical observations of a SN 2002cx-like supernova SN 2013en in UGC 11369, spanning from a phase near maximum light (t= +1 d) to t= +60 d with respect to the R-band maximum. Adopting a distance modulus of mu=34.11 +/- 0.15 mag and a total extinction (host galaxy+Milky Way) of $A_V \sim1.5$ mag, we found that SN 2013en peaked at $M(R)\sim -18.6$ mag, which is underluminous compared to the normal SNe Ia. The near maximum spectra show lines of Si II, Fe II, Fe III, Cr II, Ca II and other intermediate-mass and iron group elements which all have lower expansion velocities (i.e., ~ 6000 km/s). The photometric and spectroscopic evolution of SN 2013en is remarkably similar to those of SN 2002cx and SN 2005hk, suggesting that they are likely to be generated from a similar progenitor scenario or explosion mechanism.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures, 3 tables, accepted for publication in MNRA

The Dusty and Extremely Red Progenitor of the Type II Supernova 2023ixf in Messier 101

Stars with initial masses in the range of 8-25 solar masses are thought to end their lives as hydrogen-rich supernova (SNe II). Based on the pre-explosion images of Hubble Space Telescope (\textit{HST}) and \textit{Spitzer} Space Telescope, we place tight constraints on the progenitor candidate of type IIP SN 2023ixf in Messier 101. Fitting of the spectral energy distribution (SED) of its progenitor with dusty stellar spectral models results in an estimation of the effective temperature as 3090 K, making it the coolest SN progenitor ever discovered. The luminosity is estimated as log($L/$L$_{\odot}$)$\sim4.8$, consistent with a red supergiant (RSG) star with an initial mass of 12$^{+2}_{-1}$ M$_{\odot}$. The derived mass loss rate (6-9$\times10^{-6}$ M$_{\odot}$ yr$^{-1}$) is much lower than that inferred from the flash spectroscopy of the SN, suggesting that the progenitor experienced a sudden increase in mass loss when approaching the final explosion. In the mid-infrared color diagram, the progenitor star is found to show a significant deviation from the range of regular RSGs, but is close to some extreme RSGs and super asymptotic giant branch (sAGB) stars. Thus, SN 2023ixf may belong to a rare subclass of electron-captured supernova for an origin of sAGB progenitor.Comment: 6 figures; under review by Science Bulleti

Optical and Ultraviolet Observations of the Very Young Type IIP SN 2014cx in NGC 337

Extensive photometric and spectroscopic observations are presented for SN 2014cx, a type IIP supernova (SN) exploding in the nearby galaxy NGC 337. The observations are performed in optical and ultraviolet bands, covering from -20 to +400 days from the peak light. The stringent detection limit from prediscovery images suggests that this supernova was actually detected within about 1 day after explosion. Evolution of the very early-time light curve of SN 2014cx is similar to that predicted from a shock breakout and post-shock cooling decline before reaching the optical peak. Our photometric observations show that SN 2014cx has a plateau duration of ~ 100 days, an absolute V-band magnitude of ~ -16.5 mag at t~50 days, and a nickel mass of 0.056+-0.008 Msun. The spectral evolution of SN 2014cx resembles that of normal SNe IIP like SN 1999em and SN 2004et, except that it has a slightly higher expansion velocity (~ 4200 km/s at 50 days). From the cooling curve of photospheric temperature, we derive that the progenitor has a pre-explosion radius of ~ 640 Rsun, consistent with those obtained from SNEC modeling (~ 620 Rsun) and hydrodynamical modeling of the observables (~ 570 Rsun). Moreover, the hydrodynamical simulations yield a total explosion energy of ~ 0.4*10e51 erg, and an ejected mass of ~ 8 Msun. These results indicate that the immediate progenitor of SN 2014cx is likely a red supergiant star with a mass of ~ 10 Msun.Comment: 47 pages, 12 figures and 7 tables. Accepted by Ap

THE 1999aa-LIKE TYPE Ia SUPERNOVA IPTF14BDN IN THE ULTRAVIOLET AND OPTICAL

We present ultraviolet (UV) and optical photometry and spectra of the 1999aa-like supernova (SN) iPTF14bdn. The UV data were observed using the Swift Ultraviolet/Optical Telescope (UVOT) and constitute the first UV spectral series of a 1999aa-like SN. From the photometry we measure $\Delta m_{15}({\it B})\,=\,0.84 \pm0.05$ mag and blue UV colors at epochs earlier than $-5$ days. The spectra show that the early-time blue colors are the result of less absorption between $2800 - 3200 \,\AA~$ than is present in normal SNe Ia. Using model spectra fits of the data at $-10$ and $+10$ days, we identify the origin of this spectral feature to be a temperature effect in which doubly ionized iron group elements create an opacity 'window'. We determine that the detection of high temperatures and large quantities of iron group elements at early epochs imply the mixing of a high Ni mass into the outer layers of the SN ejecta. We also identify the source of the I-band secondary maximum in iPTF14bdn to be the decay of Fe III to Fe II, as is seen in normal SNe Ia.Comment: 10 pages, 11 figures, 4 tables. Accepted to Ap