No Arabic abstract
We present optical and near-infrared observations of SN 2012au, a slow-evolving supernova (SN) with properties that suggest a link between subsets of energetic and H-poor SNe and superluminous SNe. SN 2012au exhibited conspicuous SN Ib-like He I lines and other absorption features at velocities reaching 2 x 10^4 km/s in its early spectra, and a broad light curve that peaked at M_B = -18.1 mag. Models of these data indicate a large explosion kinetic energy of 10^{52} erg and 56Ni mass ejection of 0.3 Msolar on par with SN 1998bw. SN 2012aus spectra almost one year after explosion show a blend of persistent Fe II P-Cyg absorptions and nebular emissions originating from two distinct velocity regions. These late-time emissions include strong [Fe II], [Ca II], [O I], Mg I], and Na I lines at velocities > 4500 km/s, as well as O I and Mg I lines at noticeably smaller velocities of 2000 km/s. Many of the late-time properties of SN 2012au are similar to the slow-evolving hypernovae SN 1997dq and SN 1997ef, and the superluminous SN 2007bi. Our observations suggest that a single explosion mechanism may unify all of these events that span -21 < M_B < -17 mag. The aspherical and possibly jetted explosion was most likely initiated by the core collapse of a massive progenitor star and created substantial high-density, low-velocity Ni-rich material.
We present ultraviolet, optical and infrared photometry and optical spectroscopy of the type Ic superluminous supernova (SLSN) Gaia16apd (= SN 2016eay), covering its evolution from 26 d before the $g$-band peak to 234.1 d after the peak. Gaia16apd was followed as a part of the NOT Unbiased Transient Survey (NUTS). It is one of the closest SLSNe known ($z = 0.102pm0.001$), with detailed optical and ultraviolet (UV) observations covering the peak. Gaia16apd is a spectroscopically typical type Ic SLSN, exhibiting the characteristic blue early spectra with O II absorption, and reaches a peak $M_{g} = -21.8 pm 0.1$ mag. However, photometrically it exhibits an evolution intermediate between the fast- and slowly-declining type Ic SLSNe, with an early evolution closer to the fast-declining events. Together with LSQ12dlf, another SLSN with similar properties, it demonstrates a possible continuum between fast- and slowly-declining events. It is unusually UV-bright even for a SLSN, reaching a non-$K$-corrected $M_{uvm2} simeq -23.3$ mag, the only other type Ic SLSN with similar UV brightness being SN 2010gx. Assuming that Gaia16apd was powered by magnetar spin-down, we derive a period of $P = 1.9pm0.2$ ms and a magnetic field of $B = 1.9pm0.2 times 10^{14}$ G for the magnetar. The estimated ejecta mass is between 8 and 16 $mathrm{M}_{odot}$ and the kinetic energy between 1.3 and $2.5 times 10^{52}$ erg, depending on opacity and assuming that the entire ejecta is swept up into a thin shell. Despite the early photometric differences, the spectra at late times are similar to slowly-declining type Ic SLSNe, implying that the two subclasses originate from similar progenitors.
Context: Research on supernovae (SNe) over the past decade has confirmed that there is a distinct class of events which are much more luminous (by $sim2$ mag) than canonical core-collapse SNe (CCSNe). These events with visual peak magnitudes $lesssim-21$ are called superluminous SNe (SLSNe). Aims: There are a few intermediate events which have luminosities between these two classes. Here we study one such object, SN 2012aa. Methods: The optical photometric and spectroscopic follow-up observations of the event were conducted over a time span of about 120 days. Results: With V_abs at peak ~-20 mag, the SN is an intermediate-luminosity transient between regular SNe Ibc and SLSNe. It also exhibits an unusual secondary bump after the maximum in its light curve. We interpret this as a manifestation of SN-shock interaction with the CSM. If we would assume a $^{56}$Ni-powered ejecta, the bolometric light curve requires roughly 1.3 M_sun of $^{56}$Ni and an ejected mass of ~14 M_sun. This would also imply a high kinetic energy of the explosion, ~5.4$times10^{51}$ ergs. On the other hand, the unusually broad light curve along with the secondary peak indicate the possibility of interaction with CSM. The third alternative is the presence of a central engine releasing spin energy that eventually powers the light curve over a long time. The host of the SN is a star-forming Sa/Sb/Sbc galaxy. Conclusions: Although the spectral properties and velocity evolution of SN 2012aa are comparable to those of normal SNe Ibc, its broad light curve along with a large peak luminosity distinguish it from canonical CCSNe, suggesting the event to be an intermediate-luminosity transient between CCSNe and SLSNe at least in terms of peak luminosity. We argue that SN 2012aa belongs to a subclass where CSM interaction plays a significant role in powering the SN, at least during the initial stages of evolution.
Stripped-envelope supernovae (SE-SNe) show a wide variety of photometric and spectroscopic properties. This is due to the different potential formation channels and the stripping mechanism that allows for a large diversity within the progenitors outer envelop compositions. Here, the photometric and spectroscopic observations of SN 2020cpg covering $sim 130$ days from the explosion date are presented. SN 2020cpg ($z = 0.037$) is a bright SE-SNe with the $B$-band peaking at $M_{B} = -17.75 pm 0.39$ mag and a maximum pseudo-bolometric luminosity of $L_mathrm{max} = 6.03 pm 0.01 times 10^{42} mathrm{ergs^{-1}}$. Spectroscopically, SN 2020cpg displays a weak high and low velocity H$alpha$ feature during the photospheric phase of its evolution, suggesting that it contained a detached hydrogen envelope prior to explosion. From comparisons with spectral models, the mass of hydrogen within the outer envelope was constrained to be $sim 0.1 mathrm{M}_{odot}$. From the pseudo-bolometric light curve of SN 2020cpg a $^{56}$Ni mass of $M_mathrm{Ni} sim 0.27 pm 0.08$ $mathrm{M}_{odot}$ was determined using an Arnett-like model. The ejecta mass and kinetic energy of SN 2020cpg were determined using an alternative method that compares the light curve of SN 2020cpg and several modelled SE-SNe, resulting in an ejecta mass of $M_mathrm{ejc} sim 5.5 pm 2.0$ $mathrm{M}_{odot}$ and a kinetic energy of $E_mathrm{K} sim 9.0 pm 3.0 times 10^{51} mathrm{erg}$. The ejected mass indicates a progenitor mass of $18 - 25 mathrm{M}_{odot}$. The use of the comparative light curve method provides an alternative process to the commonly used Arnett-like model to determine the physical properties of SE-SNe.
We present a study of optical and near-infrared (NIR) spectra along with the light curves of SN 2013ai. These data range from discovery until 380 days after explosion. SN 2013ai is a fast declining type II supernova (SN II) with an unusually long rise time; $18.9pm2.7$d in $V$ band and a bright $V$ band peak absolute magnitude of $-18.7pm0.06$ mag. The spectra are dominated by hydrogen features in the optical and NIR. The spectral features of SN 2013ai are unique in their expansion velocities, which when compared to large samples of SNe II are more than 1,000 kms faster at 50 days past explosion. In addition, the long rise time of the light curve more closely resembles SNe IIb rather than SNe II. If SN 2013ai is coeval with a nearby compact cluster we infer a progenitor ZAMS mass of $sim$17 M$_odot$. After performing light curve modeling we find that SN 2013ai could be the result of the explosion of a star with little hydrogen mass, a large amount of synthesized $^{56}$Ni, 0.3-0.4 M$_odot$, and an explosion energy of $2.5-3.0times10^{51}$ ergs. The density structure and expansion velocities of SN 2013ai are similar to that of the prototypical SN IIb, SN 1993J. However, SN 2013ai shows no strong helium features in the optical, likely due to the presence of a dense core that prevents the majority of $gamma$-rays from escaping to excite helium. Our analysis suggests that SN 2013ai could be a link between SNe II and stripped envelope SNe.
We present a set of photometric and spectroscopic observations of a bright Type Ib supernova SN 2012au from -6d until ~+150d after maximum. The shape of its early R-band light curve is similar to that of an average Type Ib/c supernova. The peak absolute magnitude is M_R=-18.7+-0.2 mag, which suggests that this supernova belongs to a very luminous group among Type Ib supernovae. The line velocity of He I {lambda}5876 is about 15,000 km/s around maximum, which is much faster than that in a typical Type Ib supernova. From the quasi-bolometric peak luminosity of (6.7+-1.3)x10^(42) erg/s, we estimate the Ni mass produced during the explosion as ~0.30 Msun. We also give a rough constraint to the ejecta mass 5-7 Msun and the kinetic energy (7-18)x10^(51) erg. We find a weak correlation between the peak absolute magnitude and He I velocity among Type Ib SNe. The similarities to SN 1998bw in the density structure inferred from the light curve model as well as the large peak bolometric luminosity suggest that SN 2012au had properties similar to energetic Type Ic supernovae.