No Arabic abstract
We present comprehensive observations and analysis of the energetic H-stripped SN 2016coi (a.k.a. ASASSN-16fp), spanning the $gamma$-ray through optical and radio wavelengths, acquired within the first hours to $sim$420 days post explosion. Our campaign confirms the identification of He in the SN ejecta, which we interpret to be caused by a larger mixing of Ni into the outer ejecta layers. From the modeling of the broad bolometric light curve we derive a large ejecta mass to kinetic energy ratio ($M_{rm{ej}}sim 4-7,rm{M_{odot}}$, $E_{rm{k}}sim 7-8times 10^{51},rm{erg}$). The small [ion{Ca}{ii}] lamlam7291,7324 to [ion{O}{i}] lamlam6300,6364 ratio ($sim$0.2) observed in our late-time optical spectra is suggestive of a large progenitor core mass at the time of collapse. We find that SN 2016coi is a luminous source of X-rays ($L_{X}>10^{39},rm{erg,s^{-1}}$ in the first $sim100$ days post explosion) and radio emission ($L_{8.5,GHz}sim7times 10^{27},rm{erg,s^{-1}Hz^{-1}}$ 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 rate $dot M sim (1-2)times 10^{-4},rm{M_{odot}yr^{-1}}$ and a sub-relativistic shock velocity $v_{sh}sim0.15c$, in stark contrast with relativistic SNe and similar to normal SNe. Finally, we find no evidence for a SN-associated shock breakout $gamma$-ray pulse with energy $E_{gamma}>2times 10^{46},rm{erg}$. 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.
The optical observations of Ic-4 supernova (SN) 2016coi/ASASSN-16fp, from $sim 2$ to $sim450$ days after explosion, are presented along with analysis of its physical properties. The SN shows the broad lines associated with SNe Ic-3/4 but with a key difference. The early spectra display a strong absorption feature at $sim 5400$ AA which is not seen in other SNe~Ic-3/4 at this epoch. This feature has been attributed to He I in the literature. Spectral modelling of the SN in the early photospheric phase suggests the presence of residual He in a C/O dominated shell. However, the behaviour of the He I lines are unusual when compared with He-rich SNe, showing relatively low velocities and weakening rather than strengthening over time. The SN is found to rise to peak $sim 16$ d after core-collapse reaching a bolometric luminosity of Lp $sim 3times10^{42}$ ergs. Spectral models, including the nebular epoch, show that the SN ejected $2.5-4$ msun of material, with $sim 1.5$ msun below 5000 kms, and with a kinetic energy of $(4.5-7)times10^{51}$ erg. The explosion synthesised $sim 0.14$ msun of 56Ni. There are significant uncertainties in E(B-V)host and the distance however, which will affect Lp and MNi. SN 2016coi exploded in a host similar to the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and away from star-forming regions. The properties of the SN and the host-galaxy suggest that the progenitor had $M_mathrm{ZAMS}$ of $23-28$ msun and was stripped almost entirely down to its C/O core at explosion.
ASASSN-18am/SN 2018gk is a newly discovered member of the rare group of luminous, hydrogen-rich supernovae (SNe) with a peak absolute magnitude of $M_V approx -20$ mag that is in between normal core-collapse SNe and superluminous SNe. These SNe show no prominent spectroscopic signatures of ejecta interacting with circumstellar material (CSM), and their powering mechanism is debated. ASASSN-18am declines extremely rapidly for a Type II SN, with a photospheric-phase decline rate of $sim6.0~rm mag~(100 d)^{-1}$. Owing to the weakening of HI and the appearance of HeI in its later phases, ASASSN-18am is spectroscopically a Type IIb SN with a partially stripped envelope. However, its photometric and spectroscopic evolution show significant differences from typical SNe IIb. Using a radiative diffusion model, we find that the light curve requires a high synthesised $rm ^{56}Ni$ mass $M_{rm Ni} sim0.4~M_odot$ and ejecta with high kinetic energy $E_{rm kin} = (7-10) times10^{51} $ erg. Introducing a magnetar central engine still requires $M_{rm Ni} sim0.3~M_odot$ and $E_{rm kin}= 3times10^{51} $ erg. The high $rm ^{56}Ni$ mass is consistent with strong iron-group nebular lines in its spectra, which are also similar to several SNe Ic-BL with high $rm ^{56}Ni$ yields. The earliest spectrum shows flash ionisation features, from which we estimate a mass-loss rate of $ dot{M}approx 2times10^{-4}~rm M_odot~yr^{-1} $. This wind density is too low to power the luminous light curve by ejecta-CSM interaction. We measure expansion velocities as high as $ 17,000 $ km/s for $H_alpha$, which is remarkably high compared to other SNe II. We estimate an oxygen core mass of $1.8-3.4$ $M_odot$ using the [OI] luminosity measured from a nebular-phase spectrum, implying a progenitor with a zero-age main sequence mass of $19-26$ $M_odot$.
The velocity of the inner ejecta of stripped-envelope core-collapse supernovae (CC-SNe) is studied by means of an analysis of their nebular spectra. Stripped-envelope CC-SNe are the result of the explosion of bare cores of massive stars ($geq 8$ M$_{odot}$), and their late-time spectra are typically dominated by a strong [O {sc i}] $lambdalambda$6300, 6363 emission line produced by the innermost, slow-moving ejecta which are not visible at earlier times as they are located below the photosphere. A characteristic velocity of the inner ejecta is obtained for a sample of 56 stripped-envelope CC-SNe of different spectral types (IIb, Ib, Ic) using direct measurements of the line width as well as spectral fitting. For most SNe, this value shows a small scatter around 4500 km s$^{-1}$. Observations ($< 100$ days) of stripped-envelope CC-SNe have revealed a subclass of very energetic SNe, termed broad-lined SNe (BL-SNe) or hypernovae, which are characterised by broad absorption lines in the early-time spectra, indicative of outer ejecta moving at very high velocity ($v geq 0.1 c$). SNe identified as BL in the early phase show large variations of core velocities at late phases, with some having much higher and some having similar velocities with respect to regular CC-SNe. This might indicate asphericity of the inner ejecta of BL-SNe, a possibility we investigate using synthetic three-dimensional nebular spectra.
We report optical and near-infrared observations of SN 2012ca with the Public ESO Spectroscopy Survey of Transient Objects (PESSTO), spread over one year since discovery. The supernova (SN) bears many similarities to SN 1997cy and to other events classified as Type IIn but which have been suggested to have a thermonuclear origin with narrow hydrogen lines produced when the ejecta impact a hydrogen-rich circumstellar medium (CSM). Our analysis, especially in the nebular phase, reveals the presence of oxygen, magnesium and carbon features. This suggests a core collapse explanation for SN2012ca, in contrast to the thermonuclear interpretation proposed for some members of this group. We suggest that the data can be explained with a hydrogen and helium deficient SN ejecta (Type I) interacting with a hydrogen-rich CSM, but that the explosion was more likely a Type Ic core-collapse explosion than a Type Ia thermonuclear one. This suggests two channels (both thermonuclear and stripped envelope core-collapse) may be responsible for these SN 1997cy-like events.
The status of core collapse supernoova progenitor models is reviewed with a focus on some of the current uncertainties arising from the difficulties of modeling important macrophysics and microphysics. In particular, I look at issues concerned with modeling convection, the implications of the still uncertain 12C(alpha,gamma)16O reaction rate, the uncertainties involved with the incorporation of mass loss, rotation, and magnetic fields in the stellar models, and the possible generation of global instabilities in stellar models at the late evolutionary stages.