We present a comprehensive set of optical and near-infrared (NIR) photometric and spectroscopic observations for SN 2014ck, extending from pre-maximum to six months later. These data indicate that SN ...2014ck is photometrically nearly identical to SN 2002cx, which is the prototype of the class of peculiar transients named SNe Iax. Similar to SN 2002cx, SN 2014ck reached a peak brightness M
B = −17.37 ± 0.15 mag, with a post-maximum decline rate Δm
15(B) = 1.76 ± 0.15 mag. However, the spectroscopic sequence shows similarities with SN 2008ha, which was three magnitudes fainter and faster declining. In particular, SN 2014ck exhibits extremely low ejecta velocities, ∼3000 km s−1 at maximum, which are close to the value measured for SN 2008ha and half the value inferred for SN 2002cx. The bolometric light curve of SN 2014ck is consistent with the production of
$0.10^{+0.04}_{-0.03} \,\mathrm{M}_{{\odot }}$
of 56Ni. The spectral identification of several iron-peak features, in particular Co ii lines in the NIR, provides a clear link to SNe Ia. Also, the detection of narrow Si, S and C features in the pre-maximum spectra suggests a thermonuclear explosion mechanism. The late-phase spectra show a complex overlap of both permitted and forbidden Fe, Ca and Co lines. The appearance of strong Ca ii λλ7292, 7324 again mirrors the late-time spectra of SN 2008ha and SN 2002cx. The photometric resemblance to SN 2002cx and the spectral similarities to SN 2008ha highlight the peculiarity of SN 2014ck, and the complexity and heterogeneity of the SNe Iax class.
We present multiband ultraviolet, optical, and near-infrared photometry, along with visual-wavelength spectroscopy, of supernova (SN) 2014G in the nearby galaxy NGC 3448 (25 Mpc). The early-phase ...spectra show strong emission lines of the high ionization species He ii/N iv/C iv during the first 2–3 d after explosion, traces of a metal-rich circumstellar material (CSM) probably due to pre-explosion mass-loss events. These disappear by day 9 and the spectral evolution then continues matching that of normal Type II SNe. The post-maximum light curve declines at a rate typical of Type II-L class. The extensive photometric coverage tracks the drop from the photospheric stage and constrains the radioactive tail, with a steeper decline rate than that expected from the 56Co decay if γ-rays are fully trapped by the ejecta. We report the appearance of an unusual feature on the blue side of H α after 100 d, which evolves to appear as a flat spectral feature linking H α and the O i doublet. This may be due to interaction of the ejecta with a strongly asymmetric, and possibly bipolar CSM. Finally, we report two deep spectra at ∼190 and 340 d after explosion, the latter being arguably one of the latest spectra for a Type II-L SN. By modelling the spectral region around the Ca ii, we find a supersolar Ni/Fe production. The strength of the O i λλ6300,6363 doublet, compared with synthetic nebular spectra, suggests a progenitor with a zero-age main-sequence mass between 15 and 19 M⊙.
We present the results of a photometric and spectroscopic monitoring campaign of SN 2012ec, which exploded in the spiral galaxy NGC 1084, during the photospheric phase. The photometric light curve ...exhibits a plateau with luminosity L = 0.9 × 1042 erg s−1 and duration ∼90 d, which is somewhat shorter than standard Type II-P supernovae (SNe). We estimate the nickel mass M(56Ni) = 0.040 ± 0.015 M⊙ from the luminosity at the beginning of the radioactive tail of the light curve. The explosion parameters of SN 2012ec were estimated from the comparison of the bolometric light curve and the observed temperature and velocity evolution of the ejecta with predictions from hydrodynamical models. We derived an envelope mass of 12.6 M⊙, an initial progenitor radius of 1.6 × 1013 cm and an explosion energy of 1.2 foe. These estimates agree with an independent study of the progenitor star identified in pre-explosion images, for which an initial mass of M = 14-22 M⊙ was determined. We have applied the same analysis to two other Type II-P SNe (SNe 2012aw and 2012A), and carried out a comparison with the properties of SN 2012ec derived in this paper. We find a reasonable agreement between the masses of the progenitors obtained from pre-explosion images and masses derived from hydrodynamical models. We estimate the distance to SN 2012ec with the standardized candle method (SCM) and compare it with other estimates based on other primary and secondary indicators. SNe 2012A, 2012aw and 2012ec all follow the standard relations for the SCM for the use of Type II-P SNe as distance indicators.
Abstract
We present photometry, polarimetry, and spectroscopy of the Type II supernova ASASSN-16ab/SN 2016B in PGC 037392. The photometric and spectroscopic follow-up commenced about 2 weeks after ...shock breakout and continued until nearly 6 months. The light curve of SN 2016B exhibits intermediate properties between those of Type IIP and IIL. The early decline is steep (1.68 ± 0.10 mag 100 d−1), followed by a shallower plateau phase (0.47 ± 0.24 mag 100 d−1). The optically thick phase lasts for 118 d, similar to Type IIP. The 56Ni mass estimated from the radioactive tail of the bolometric light curve is 0.082 ± 0.019 M⊙. High-velocity component contributing to the absorption trough of H α and H β in the photospheric spectra are identified from the spectral modelling from about 57–97 d after the outburst, suggesting a possible SN ejecta and circumstellar material interaction. Such high-velocity features are common in the spectra of Type IIL supernovae. By modelling the true bolometric light curve of SN 2016B, we estimated a total ejected mass of ∼15 M⊙, kinetic energy of ∼1.4 foe, and an initial radius of ∼400 R⊙.
Hydrogen-poor superluminous supernovae (SLSNe-I) have been predominantly found in low-metallicity, star-forming dwarf galaxies. Here we identify Gaia17biu/SN 2017egm as an SLSN-I occurring in a ..."normal" spiral galaxy (NGC 3191) in terms of stellar mass (several times 1010 M ) and metallicity (roughly solar). At redshift z = 0.031, Gaia17biu is also the lowest-redshift SLSN-I to date, and the absence of a larger population of SLSNe-I in dwarf galaxies of similar redshift suggests that metallicity is likely less important to the production of SLSNe-I than previously believed. With the smallest distance and highest apparent brightness for an SLSN-I, we are able to study Gaia17biu in unprecedented detail. Its pre-peak near-ultraviolet to optical color is similar to that of Gaia16apd and among the bluest observed for an SLSN-I, while its peak luminosity (Mg = −21 mag) is substantially lower than that of Gaia16apd. Thanks to the high signal-to-noise ratios of our spectra, we identify several new spectroscopic features that may help to probe the properties of these enigmatic explosions. We detect polarization at the ∼0.5% level that is not strongly dependent on wavelength, suggesting a modest, global departure from spherical symmetry. In addition, we put the tightest upper limit yet on the radio luminosity of an SLSN-I with <5.4 × 1026 erg s−1 Hz−1 at 10 GHz, which is almost a factor of 40 better than previous upper limits and one of the few measured at an early stage in the evolution of an SLSN-I. This limit largely rules out an association of this SLSN-I with known populations of gamma-ray-burst-like central engines.
ABSTRACT
We present an astrometric and photometric wide-field study of the Galactic open star cluster M37 (NGC 2099). The studied field was observed with ground-based images covering a region of ...about four square degrees in the Sloan-like filters ugi. We exploited the Gaia catalogue to calibrate the geometric distortion of the large field mosaics, developing software routines that can be also applied to other wide-field instruments. The data are used to identify the hottest white dwarf (WD) member candidates of M37. Thanks to the Gaia EDR3 exquisite astrometry we identified seven such WD candidates, one of which, besides being a high-probability astrometric member, is the putative central star of a planetary nebula. To our knowledge, this is a unique object in an open cluster, and we have obtained follow-up low-resolution spectra that are used for a qualitative characterization of this young WD. Finally, we publicly release a three-colour atlas and a catalogue of the sources in the field of view, which represents a complement of existing material.
We present comprehensive observations and analysis of the energetic H-stripped SN 2016coi (a.k.a. ASASSN-16fp), spanning the γ-ray through optical and radio wavelengths, acquired within the first ...hours to ∼420 days post explosion. Our observational campaign confirms the identification of He in the supernova (SN) ejecta, which we interpret to be caused by a larger mixing of Ni into the outer ejecta layers. By modeling the broad bolometric light curve, we derive a large ejecta-mass-to-kinetic-energy ratio (Mej ∼ 4-7 M , Ek ∼ (7-8) × 1051 erg). The small Ca ii λλ7291,7324 to O i λλ6300,6364 ratio (∼0.2) observed in our late-time optical spectra is suggestive of a large progenitor core mass at the time of collapse. We find that SN 2016coi is a luminous source of X-rays (LX > 1039 erg s−1 in the first ∼100 days post explosion) and radio emission (L8.5 GHz ∼ 7 × 1027 erg s−1 Hz−1 at peak). These values are in line with those of relativistic SNe (2009bb, 2012ap). However, for SN 2016coi, we infer substantial pre-explosion progenitor mass loss with a rate ∼ (1-2) × and a sub-relativistic shock velocity vsh ∼ 0.15c, which is in stark contrast with relativistic SNe and similar to normal SNe. Finally, we find no evidence for a SN-associated shock breakout γ-ray pulse with energy Eγ > 2 × 1046 erg. While we cannot exclude the presence of a companion in a binary system, taken together, our findings are consistent with a massive single-star progenitor that experienced large mass loss in the years leading up to core collapse, but was unable to achieve complete stripping of its outer layers before explosion.
Abstract
We present results of the photometric (from 3 to 509 d post-explosion) and spectroscopic (up to 230 d post-explosion) monitoring campaign of the He-rich Type IIb supernova (SN) 2015as. The ...(B − V) colour evolution of SN 2015as closely resemble those of SN 2008ax, suggesting that SN 2015as belongs to the SN IIb subgroup that does not show the early, short-duration photometric peak. The light curve of SN 2015as reaches the B-band maximum about 22 d after the explosion, at an absolute magnitude of −16.82 ± 0.18 mag. At ∼75 d after the explosion, its spectrum transitions from that of a SN II to a SN Ib. P Cygni features due to He i lines appear at around 30 d after explosion, indicating that the progenitor of SN 2015as was partially stripped. For SN 2015as, we estimate a 56Ni mass of ∼0.08 M⊙ and ejecta mass of 1.1–2.2 M⊙, which are similar to the values inferred for SN 2008ax. The quasi-bolometric analytical light-curve modelling suggests that the progenitor of SN 2015as has a modest mass (∼0.1 M⊙), a nearly compact (∼0.05 × 1013 cm) H envelope on top of a dense, compact (∼2 × 1011 cm) and a more massive (∼1.2 M⊙) He core. The analysis of the nebular phase spectra indicates that ∼0.44 M⊙ of O is ejected in the explosion. The intensity ratio of the Ca ii/O i nebular lines favours either a main-sequence progenitor mass of ∼15 M⊙ or a Wolf–Rayet star of 20 M⊙.
Supernova (SN) 2015bh (or SNhunt275) was discovered in NGC 2770 on 2015 February with an absolute magnitude of Mr ~ -13.4 mag, and was initially classified as an SN impostor. Here, we present the ...photometric and spectroscopic evolution of SN 2015bh from discovery to late phases (~1 yr after). In addition, we inspect archival images of the host galaxy up to ~21 yr before discovery, finding a burst ~1 yr before discovery, and further signatures of stellar instability until late 2014. Later on, the luminosity of the transient slowly increases, and a broad light-curve peak is reached after about three months. We propose that the transient discovered in early 2015 could be a core-collapse SN explosion. The pre-SN luminosity variability history, the long-lasting rise and faintness first light-curve peak suggests that the progenitor was a very massive, unstable and blue star, which exploded as a faint SN because of severe fallback of material. Later on, the object experiences a sudden brightening of 3 mag, which results from the interaction of the SN ejecta with circumstellar material formed through repeated past mass-loss events. Spectroscopic signatures of interaction are however visible at all epochs. A similar chain of events was previously proposed for the similar interacting SN 2009ip.
The fraction of core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe) occurring in the central regions of galaxies is not well constrained at present. This is partly because large-scale transient surveys operate at ...optical wavelengths, making it challenging to detect transient sources that occur in regions susceptible to high extinction factors. Here we present the discovery and follow-up observations of two CCSNe that occurred in the luminous infrared galaxy (LIRG) NGC 3256. The first, SN 2018ec, was discovered using the ESO HAWK-I/GRAAL adaptive optics seeing enhancer, and was classified as a Type Ic with a host galaxy extinction of
A
V
= 2.1
−0.1
+0.3
mag. The second, AT 2018cux, was discovered during the course of follow-up observations of SN 2018ec, and is consistent with a subluminous Type IIP classification with an
A
V
= 2.1 ± 0.4 mag of host extinction. A third CCSN, PSN J10275082−4354034 in NGC 3256, was previously reported in 2014, and we recovered the source in late-time archival
Hubble
Space Telescope imaging. Based on template light curve fitting, we favour a Type IIn classification for it with modest host galaxy extinction of
A
V
= 0.3
−0.3
+0.4
mag. We also extend our study with follow-up data of the recent Type IIb SN 2019lqo and Type Ib SN 2020fkb that occurred in the LIRG system Arp 299 with host extinctions of
A
V
= 2.1
−0.3
+0.1
and
A
V
= 0.4
−0.2
+0.1
mag, respectively. Motivated by the above, we inspected, for the first time, a sample of 29 CCSNe located within a projected distance of 2.5 kpc from the host galaxy nuclei in a sample of 16 LIRGs. We find, if star formation within these galaxies is modelled assuming a global starburst episode and normal IMF, that there is evidence of a correlation between the starburst age and the CCSN subtype. We infer that the two subgroups of 14 H-poor (Type IIb/Ib/Ic/Ibn) and 15 H-rich (Type II/IIn) CCSNe have different underlying progenitor age distributions, with the H-poor progenitors being younger at 3
σ
significance. However, we note that the currently available sample sizes of CCSNe and host LIRGs are small, and the statistical comparisons between subgroups do not take into account possible systematic or model errors related to the estimated starburst ages.
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