UNI-MB - logo
UMNIK - logo
 
E-resources
Peer reviewed Open access
  • Helium-rich Superluminous S...
    Yan, Lin; Perley, D. A.; Schulze, S.; Lunnan, R.; Sollerman, J.; De, K.; Chen, Z. H.; Fremling, C.; Gal-Yam, A.; Taggart, K.; Chen, T.-W.; Andreoni, I.; Bellm, E. C.; Cunningham, V.; Dekany, R.; Duev, D. A.; Fransson, C.; Laher, R. R.; Hankins, M.; Ho, A. Y. Q.; Jencson, J. E.; Kaye, S.; Kulkarni, S. R.; Kasliwal, M. M.; Golkhou, V. Z.; Graham, M.; Masci, F. J.; Miller, A. A.; Neill, J. D.; Ofek, E.; Porter, M.; Mróz, P.; Reiley, D.; Riddle, R.; Rigault, M.; Rusholme, B.; Shupe, D. L.; Soumagnac, M. T.; Smith, R.; Tartaglia, L.; Yao, Y.; Yaron, O.

    Astrophysical journal. Letters, 10/2020, Volume: 902, Issue: 1
    Journal Article

    Helium is expected to be present in the massive ejecta of some hydrogen-poor superluminous supernovae (SLSN-I). However, until now only one event has been identified with He features in its photospheric spectra (PTF10hgi). We present the discovery of a new He-rich SLSN-I, ZTF19aawfbtg (SN2019hge), at z = 0.0866. This event has more than 10 optical spectra at phases from −41 to +103 days relative to the peak, most of which match well with that of PTF10hgi. Confirmation comes from a near-IR spectrum taken at +34 days, revealing He i features with P-Cygni profiles at 1.083 and 2.058 m. Using the optical spectra of PTF10hgi and SN2019hge as templates, we examined 70 other SLSNe-I discovered by Zwicky Transient Facility in the first two years of operation and found five additional SLSNe-I with distinct He-features. The excitation of He i atoms in normal core-collapse supernovae requires nonthermal radiation, as proposed by previous studies. These He-rich events cannot be explained by the traditional 56Ni mixing model because of their blue spectra, high peak luminosities, and long rise timescales. Magnetar models offer a possible solution since pulsar winds naturally generate high-energy particles, potential sources of nonthermal excitation. An alternative model is the interaction between the ejecta and dense H-poor circumstellar material, which may be supported by observed undulations in the light curves. These six SLSNe-Ib have relatively low-peak luminosities (rest frame Mg = −20.06 0.16).