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This paper presents data and analysis of SN 2010kd, a low-redshift ($z = 0.101$) H-deficient superluminous supernova (SLSN), based on ultraviolet/optical photometry and optical spectroscopy spanning between $-$28 and +194 days relative to $mathit{B}$ band maximum light. The $mathit{B}$ band light curve comparison of SN 2010kd with a subset of well-studied SLSNe I at comparable redshifts indicates that it is a slow-decaying PTF12dam like SLSN. Analytical light-curve modeling using the $mathtt{Minim}$ code suggests that the bolometric light curve of SN 2010kd favors circumstellar matter interaction for the powering mechanism. $mathtt{SYNAPPS}$ modeling of the early-phase spectra does not identify broad H or He lines, whereas the photospheric-phase spectra are dominated by O I, O II, C II, C IV and Si II, particularly, presence of both low and high-velocity components of O II and Si II lines. The nebular-phase spectra of SN 2010kd are dominated by O I and Ca II emission lines similar to those seen in other SLSNe I. The line velocities in SN 2010kd exhibit flatter evolution curves similar to SN 2015bn but with comparatively higher values. SN 2010kd shows a higher single-zone local thermodynamic equilibrium temperature in comparison to PTF12dam and SN 2015bn, and it has an upper O I ejected mass limit of $sim 10~M_odot$. The host of SN 2010kd is a dwarf galaxy with a high star-formation rate ($sim 0.18 pm 0.04~M_odot$ yr$^{-1}$) and extreme emission lines.
Optical, near-infrared (NIR) photometric and spectroscopic studies, along with the optical imaging polarimetric results for SN 2012au, are presented in this article to constrain the nature of the progenitor and other properties. Well-calibrated multiband optical photometric data (from $-$0.2 to +413 d since $B$-band maximum) were used to compute the bolometric light curve and to perform semi-analytical light-curve modelling using the $texttt{MINIM}$ code. A spin-down millisecond magnetar-powered model explains the observed photometric evolution of SN 2012au reasonably. Early-time imaging polarimetric follow-up observations ($-$2 to +31 d) and comparison with other similar cases indicate signatures of asphericity in the ejecta. Good spectral coverage of SN 2012au (from $-$5 to +391 d) allows us to trace the evolution of layers of SN ejecta in detail. SN 2012au exhibits higher line velocities in comparison with other SNe Ib. Late nebular phase spectra of SN 2012au indicate a Wolf$-$Rayet star as the possible progenitor for SN 2012au, with oxygen, He-core, and main-sequence masses of $sim$1.62 $pm$ 0.15 M$_odot$, $sim$4$-$8 M$_odot$, and $sim$17$-$25 M$_odot$, respectively. There is a clear absence of a first overtone of carbon monoxide (CO) features up to +319 d in the $K$-band region of the NIR spectra. Overall analysis suggests that SN 2012au is one of the most luminous slow-decaying Type Ib SNe, having comparatively higher ejecta mass ($sim$4.7$-$8.3 M$_odot$) and kinetic energy ($sim$[4.8 $-$ 5.4] $times$ 10$^{51}$ erg). Detailed modelling using $texttt{MESA}$ and the results obtained through $texttt{STELLA}$ and $texttt{SNEC}$ explosions also strongly support spin-down of a magnetar with mass of around 20 M$_odot$ and metallicity Z = 0.04 as a possible powering source of SN 2012au.
We investigate the observational properties of a hydrogen-deficient superluminous supernova (SLSN) SN 2020ank (at z = 0.2485), with the help of early phase observations carried out between $-$21 and +52 d since $g$-band maximum. Photometrically, SN 2020ank is one of the brightest SLSN ($M_{g,peak}$ $sim$ $-$21.84 $pm$ 0.10 mag), having fast pre-peak rising and post-peak decaying rates. The bolometric light curve of SN 2020ank exhibits a higher peak luminosity ($L_{max}$) of $sim$(3.9 $pm$ 0.7) $times$ 10$^{44}$ erg s$^{-1}$ and appears to be symmetric around the peak with $L^{rise}_{max}$/e $approx$ $L^{fall}_{max}$/e $approx$ 15 d. The semi-analytical light-curve modelling using the MINIM code suggests a spin down millisecond magnetar with $P_i$ $sim$2.2 $pm$ 0.5 ms and $B$ $sim$(2.9 $pm$ 0.1) $times$ $10^{14}$ G as a possible powering source for SN 2020ank. The possible magnetar origin and excess ultraviolet flux at early epochs indicate a central-engine based powering source for SN 2020ank. Near-peak spectra of SN 2020ank are enriched with the W-shaped O II features but with the weaker signatures of C II and Fe III. Using the estimated rise time of $sim$27.9 d and the photospheric velocity of $sim$12050 km s$^{-1}$, we constrain the ejecta mass to $sim$7.2 $M_{odot}$ and the kinetic energy of $sim$6.3 $times$ 10$^{51}$ erg. The near-peak spectrum of SN 2020ank exhibits a close spectral resemblance with that of fast-evolving SN 2010gx. The absorption features of SN 2020ank are blueshifted compared to Gaia16apd, suggesting a higher expansion velocity. The spectral similarity with SN 2010gx and comparatively faster spectral evolution than PTF12dam (a slow-evolving SLSN) indicate the fast-evolving behavior of SN 2020ank.
We investigate the thermal emission and extinction from dust associated with the nearby superluminous supernova (SLSN) 2018bsz. Our dataset has daily cadence and simultaneous optical and near-infrared coverage up to ~ 100 days, together with late time (+ 1.7 yr) MIR observations. At 230 days after light curve peak the SN is not detected in the optical, but shows a surprisingly strong near-infrared excess, with r - J > 3 mag and r - Ks > 5 mag. The time evolution of the infrared light curve enables us to investigate if the mid-infrared emission is from newly formed dust inside the SN ejecta, from a pre-existing circumstellar envelope, or interstellar material heated by the radiation from the SN. We find the latter two scenarios can be ruled out, and a scenario where new dust is forming in the SN ejecta at epochs > 200 days can self-consistently reproduce the evolution of the SN flux. We can fit the spectral energy distribution well at +230 d with 5 x 10^-4 solar mass of carbon dust, increasing over the following several hundred days to 10^-2 solar mass by +535 d. SN 2018bsz is the first SLSN showing evidence for dust formation within the SN ejecta, and appears to form ten times more dust than normal core-collapse SNe at similar epochs. Together with their preference for low mass, low metallicity host galaxies, we suggest that SLSNe may be a significant contributor to dust formation in the early Universe.
SN 2018hti is a Type I superluminous supernova (SLSN~I) with an absolute $g$-band magnitude of $-22.2$ at maximum brightness, discovered in a metal-poor galaxy at a redshift of 0.0612. We present extensive photometric and spectroscopic observations of this supernova, covering the phases from $sim -35$ days to more than +340 days from the $r$-band maximum. Combining our $BVgri$-band photometry with {it Swift} UVOT optical/ultraviolet photometry, we calculated the peak luminosity as $sim 3.5times10^{44}$ erg s$^{-1}$. Modeling the observed light curve reveals that the luminosity evolution of SN 2018hti can be produced by an ejecta mass of 5.8 $M_odot$ and a magnetar with a magnetic field of $B=1.8times10^{13}$~G having an initial spin period of $P_0=1.8$ ms. Based on such a magnetar-powered scenario and a larger sample, a correlation between the spin of the magnetar and the kinetic energy of the ejecta can be inferred for most SLSNe~I, suggesting a self-consistent scenario. Like for other SLSNe~I, the host galaxy of SN 2018hti is found to be relatively faint ($M_{g} = -17.75$ mag) and of low metallicity ($Z=0.3~Z_odot$), with a star-formation rate of 0.3 $M_odot$ yr$^{-1}$. According to simulation results of single-star evolution, SN 2018hti could originate from a massive, metal-poor star with a zero-age main sequence (ZAMS) mass of 25--40 $M_odot$, or from a less massive rotating star with $M_mathrm{ZAMS} approx 16$--25 $M_odot$. For the case of a binary system, its progenitor could also be a star with $M_mathrm{ZAMS} gtrsim 25$ $M_odot$.
The discovery of a population of superluminous supernovae (SLSNe), with peak luminosities a factor of ~100 brighter than normal SNe (typically SLSNe have M_V <-21), has shown an unexpected diversity in core-collapse supernova properties. Numerous models have been postulated for the nature of these events, including a strong interaction of the shockwave with a dense circumstellar environment, a re-energizing of the outflow via a central engine, or an origin in the catastrophic destruction of the star following a loss of pressure due to pair production in an extremely massive stellar core (so-called pair instability supernovae). Here we consider constraints that can be placed on the explosion mechanism of Hydrogen-poor SLSNe (SLSNe-I) via X-ray observations, with XMM-Newton, Chandra and Swift, and show that at least one SLSNe-I is likely the brightest X-ray supernovae ever observed, with L_X ~ 10^45 ergs/s, ~150 days after its initial discovery. This is a luminosity 3 orders of magnitude higher than seen in other X-ray supernovae powered via circumstellar interactions. Such high X-ray luminosities are sufficient to ionize the ejecta and markedly reduce the optical depth, making it possible to see deep into the ejecta and any source of emission that resides there. Alternatively, an engine could have powered a moderately relativistic jet external to the ejecta, similar to those seen in gamma-ray bursts. If the detection of X-rays does require an engine it implies that these SNe do create compact objects, and that the stars are not completely destroyed in a pair instability event. Future observations will determine which, if any, of these mechanisms are at play in superluminous supernovae.