We study the optical light curve (LC) relations of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) for their use in cosmology using high-quality photometry published by the Carnegie Supernova Project (CSP-I). We revisit ...the classical luminosity decline rate (Δm15) relation and the Lira relation, as well as investigate the time evolution of the (B − V) color and B(B − V), which serves as the basis of the color-stretch relation and Color-MAgnitude Intercept Calibrations (CMAGIC). Our analysis is based on explosion and radiation transport simulations for spherically symmetric delayed-detonation models (DDT) producing normal-bright and subluminous SNe Ia. Empirical LC relations can be understood as having the same physical underpinnings, i.e., opacities, ionization balances in the photosphere, and radioactive energy deposition changing with time from below to above the photosphere. Some three to four weeks past maximum, the photosphere recedes to 56Ni-rich layers of similar density structure, leading to a similar color evolution. An important secondary parameter is the central density c of the WD because at higher densities, more electron-capture elements are produced at the expense of 56Ni production. This results in a Δm15 spread of 0.1 mag in normal-bright and 0.7 mag in subluminous SNe Ia and 0.2 mag in the Lira relation. We show why color-magnitude diagrams emphasize the transition between physical regimes and enable the construction of templates that depend mostly on Δm15 with little dispersion in both the CSP-I sample and our DDT models. This allows intrinsic SN Ia variations to be separated from the interstellar reddening characterized by E(B − V) and RB. Invoking different scenarios causes a wide spread in empirical relations, which may suggest one dominant scenario.
We present 81 near-infrared (NIR) spectra of 30 Type II supernovae (SNe II) from the Carnegie Supernova Project-II (CSP-II), the largest such data set published to date. We identify a number of NIR ...features and characterize their evolution over time. The NIR spectroscopic properties of SNe II fall into two distinct groups. This classification is first based on the strength of the He i λ1.083 m absorption during the plateau phase; SNe II are either significantly above (spectroscopically strong) or below 50 (spectroscopically weak) in pseudo equivalent width. However, between the two groups other properties, such as the timing of CO formation and the presence of Sr ii, are also observed. Most surprisingly, the distinct weak and strong NIR spectroscopic classes correspond to SNe II with slow and fast declining light curves, respectively. These two photometric groups match the modern nomenclature of SNe IIP, which show a long duration plateau, and IIL, which have a linear declining light curve. Including NIR spectra previously published, 18 out of 19 SNe II follow this slow declining-spectroscopically weak and fast declining-spectroscopically strong correspondence. This is in apparent contradiction to the recent findings in the optical that slow and fast decliners show a continuous distribution of properties. The weak SNe II show a high-velocity component of helium that may be caused by a thermal excitation from a reverse shock created by the outer ejecta interacting with the red supergiant wind, but the origin of the observed dichotomy is not understood. Further studies are crucial in determining whether the apparent differences in the NIR are due to distinct physical processes or a gap in the current data set.
Abstract
We present 75 near-infrared (NIR; 0.8−2.5
μ
m) spectra of 34 stripped-envelope core-collapse supernovae (SESNe) obtained by the Carnegie Supernova Project-II (CSP-II), encompassing optical ...spectroscopic Types IIb, Ib, Ic, and Ic-BL. The spectra range in phase from pre-maximum to 80 days past maximum. This unique data set constitutes the largest NIR spectroscopic sample of SESNe to date. NIR spectroscopy provides observables with additional information that is not available in the optical. Specifically, the NIR contains the strong lines of He
i
and allows a more detailed look at whether Type Ic supernovae are completely stripped of their outer He layer. The NIR spectra of SESNe have broad similarities, but closer examination through statistical means reveals a strong dichotomy between NIR “He-rich” and “He-poor” SNe. These NIR subgroups correspond almost perfectly to the optical IIb/Ib and Ic/Ic-BL types, respectively. The largest difference between the two groups is observed in the 2
μ
m region, near the He
i
λ
2.0581
μ
m line. The division between the two groups is
not
an arbitrary one along a continuous sequence. Early spectra of He-rich SESNe show much stronger He
i
λ
2.0581
μ
m absorption compared to the He-poor group, but with a wide range of profile shapes. The same line also provides evidence for trace amounts of He in half of our SNe in the He-poor group.
Our recent work demonstrates a correlation between the high-velocity blue edge, vedge, of the iron-peak Fe/Co/Ni H-band emission feature and the optical light-curve (LC) shape of normal, transitional ...and subluminous SNe Ia. We explain this correlation in terms of SN Ia physics. vedge corresponds to the sharp transition between the complete and incomplete silicon burning regions in the ejecta. It measures the point in velocity space where the outer 56Ni mass fraction, XNi, falls to the order of 0.03-0.10. For a given 56Ni mass, M(56Ni), vedge is sensitive to the specific kinetic energy Ekin(M(56Ni)/MWD) of the corresponding region. Combining vedge with LC parameters (i.e., sBV, in B and V) allows us to distinguish between explosion scenarios. The correlation between vedge and light-curve shape is consistent with explosion models near the Chandrasekhar limit. However, the available sub-MCh WD explosion model based on SN 1999by exhibits velocities that are too large to explain the observations. Finally, the subluminous SN 2015bo exhibits signatures of a dynamical merger of two WDs demonstrating diversity among explosion scenarios at the faint end of the SNe Ia population.
Abstract
We present multiwavelength time-series spectroscopy of SN 2013aa and SN 2017cbv, two Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) on the outskirts of the same host galaxy, NGC 5643. This work utilizes new ...nebular-phase near-infrared (NIR) spectra obtained by the Carnegie Supernova Project-II, in addition to previously published optical and NIR spectra. Using nebular-phase Fe
ii
lines in the optical and NIR, we examine the explosion kinematics and test the efficacy of several common emission-line-fitting techniques. The NIR Fe
ii
1.644
μ
m line provides the most robust velocity measurements against variations due to the choice of the fit method and line blending. The resulting effects on velocity measurements due to choosing different fit methods, initial fit parameters, continuum and line profile functions, and fit region boundaries were also investigated. The NIR Fe
ii
velocities yield the same radial shift direction as velocities measured using the optical Fe
ii
λ
7155 line, but the sizes of the shifts are consistently and substantially lower, pointing to a potential issue in optical studies. The NIR Fe
ii
1.644
μ
m emission profile shows a lack of significant asymmetry in both SNe, and the observed low velocities elevate the importance for correcting for any velocity contribution from the host galaxy’s rotation. The low Fe
ii
velocities measured in the NIR at nebular phases disfavor progenitor scenarios in close double-degenerate systems for both SN 2013aa and SN 2017cbv. The time evolution of the NIR Fe
ii
1.644
μ
m line also indicates moderately high progenitor white dwarf central density and potentially high magnetic fields.
We present a new method to photometrically delineate between various sub-types of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia). Using the color-stretch parameters, sBV or sgr, and the time of i-band primary maximum ...relative to the B-band ( ) or g-band ( ) maximum it is demonstrated that 2003fg-like, 1991bg-like, and 2002cx-like SNe Ia can be identified readily. In the cases of these extreme SNe Ia, their primary i-band maximum occurs after the time of the B- or g-band maxima. We suggest that the timing of the i-band maximum can reveal the physical state of the SN Ia explosion as it traces: (i) the speed of the recombination front of iron group elements in the ejecta, (ii) the temperature evolution and rate of adiabatic cooling in the ejecta and, (iii) the presence of interaction with a stellar envelope. This photometric sub-typing can be used in conjunction with other SNe analysis, such as the Branch diagram, to examine the physics and diversity of SNe Ia. The results here can also be used to screen out non-Ia SNe from cosmological samples that do not have complete spectroscopic typing. Finally, as future surveys like that of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory (previously referred to as the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope) create large databases of light curves of many objects this photometric identification can be used to readily identify and study the rates and bulk properties of peculiar SNe Ia.
Abstract
We present early-time photometric and spectroscopic observations of the Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) 2021aefx. The early-time
u
-band light curve shows an excess flux when compared to normal ...SNe Ia. We suggest that the early excess blue flux may be due to a rapid change in spectral velocity in the first few days post explosion, produced by the emission of the Ca
ii
H&K feature passing from the
u
to the
B
bands on the timescale of a few days. This effect could be dominant for all SNe Ia that have broad absorption features and early-time velocities over 25,000 km s
−1
. It is likely to be one of the main causes of early excess
u
-band flux in SNe Ia that have early-time high velocities. This effect may also be dominant in the UV filters, as well as in places where the SN spectral energy distribution is quickly rising to longer wavelengths. The rapid change in velocity can only produce a monotonic change (in flux-space) in the
u
band. For objects that explode at lower velocities, and have a more structured shape in the early excess emission, there must also be an additional parameter producing the early-time diversity. More early-time observations, in particular early spectra, are required to determine how prominent this effect is within SNe Ia.
Abstract
We present a multiwavelength photometric and spectroscopic analysis of 13 super-Chandrasekhar-mass/2003fg-like Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia). Nine of these objects were observed by the ...Carnegie Supernova Project. The 2003fg-like SNe have slowly declining light curves (Δ
m
15
(
B
) < 1.3 mag), and peak absolute
B
-band magnitudes of −19 <
M
B
< −21 mag. Many of the 2003fg-like SNe are located in the same part of the luminosity–width relation as normal SNe Ia. In the optical
B
and
V
bands, the 2003fg-like SNe look like normal SNe Ia, but at redder wavelengths they diverge. Unlike other luminous SNe Ia, the 2003fg-like SNe generally have only one
i
-band maximum, which peaks after the epoch of the
B
-band maximum, while their near-IR (NIR) light-curve rise times can be ≳40 days longer than those of normal SNe Ia. They are also at least 1 mag brighter in the NIR bands than normal SNe Ia, peaking above
M
H
= −19 mag, and generally have negative Hubble residuals, which may be the cause of some systematics in dark-energy experiments. Spectroscopically, the 2003fg-like SNe exhibit peculiarities such as unburnt carbon well past maximum light, a large spread (8000–12,000 km s
−1
) in Si
ii
λ
6355 velocities at maximum light with no rapid early velocity decline, and no clear
H
-band break at +10 days. We find that SNe with a larger pseudo-equivalent width of C
ii
at maximum light have lower Si
ii
λ
6355 velocities and more slowly declining light curves. There are also multiple factors that contribute to the peak luminosity of 2003fg-like SNe. The explosion of a C–O degenerate core inside a carbon-rich envelope is consistent with these observations. Such a configuration may come from the core-degenerate scenario.
Abstract
The Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) LSQ14fmg exhibits exaggerated properties that may help to reveal the origin of the “super-Chandrasekhar” (or 03fg-like) group. The optical spectrum is typical ...of a 03fg-like SN Ia, but the light curves are unlike those of any SNe Ia observed. The light curves of LSQ14fmg rise extremely slowly. At −23 rest-frame days relative to
B
-band maximum, LSQ14fmg is already brighter than
mag before host extinction correction. The observed color curves show a flat evolution from the earliest observation to approximately 1 week after maximum. The near-infrared light curves peak brighter than −20.5 mag in the
J
and
H
bands, far more luminous than any 03fg-like SNe Ia with near-infrared observations. At 1 month past maximum, the optical light curves decline rapidly. The early, slow rise and flat color evolution are interpreted to result from an additional excess flux from a power source other than the radioactive decay of the synthesized
56
Ni. The excess flux matches the interaction with a typical superwind of an asymptotic giant branch (AGB) star in density structure, mass-loss rate, and duration. The rapid decline starting at around 1 month past
B
-band maximum may be an indication of rapid cooling by active carbon monoxide (CO) formation, which requires a low-temperature and high-density environment. These peculiarities point to an AGB progenitor near the end of its evolution and the core degenerate scenario as the likely explosion mechanism for LSQ14fmg.
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