No Arabic abstract
We present our photometric and spectroscopic observations on the peculiar transient AT2018cow. The multi-band photometry covers from peak to $sim$70 days and the spectroscopy ranges from 5 to $sim$50 days. The rapid rise ($t_{mathrm{r}}$$lesssim$2.9 days), high luminosity ($M_{V,mathrm{peak}}sim-$20.8 mag) and fast decline after peak make AT2018cow stand out of any other optical transients. While we find that its light curves show high resemblance to those of type Ibn supernovae. Moreover, the spectral energy distribution remains high temperature of $sim$14,000 K after $sim$15 days since discovery. The spectra are featureless in the first 10 days, while some broad emission lines due to H, He, C and O emerge later, with velocity declining from $sim$14,000 km s$^{-1}$ to $sim$3000 km s$^{-1}$ at the end of our observations. Narrow and weak He I emission lines emerge in the spectra at $t>$20 days since discovery. These emission lines are reminiscent of the features seen in interacting supernovae like type Ibn and IIn subclasses. We fit the bolometric light curves with a model of circumstellar interaction (CSI) and radioactive decay (RD) of Ni and find a good fit with ejecta mass $M_{mathrm{ej}}sim$3.16 M$_{odot}$, circumstellar material mass $M_{mathrm{CSM}}sim$0.04 M$_{odot}$, and ejected Ni mass $M_{^{56}mathrm{Ni}}sim$0.23 M$_{odot}$. The CSM shell might be formed in an eruptive mass ejection of the progenitor star. Furthermore, host environment of AT2018cow implies connection of AT2018cow with massive stars. Combining observational properties and the light curve fitting results, we conclude that AT2018cow might be a peculiar interacting supernova originated from a massive star.
We present photometry, spectra, and spectropolarimetry of supernova (SN) 2012ab, mostly obtained over the course of $sim 300$ days after discovery. SN 2012ab was a Type IIn (SN IIn) event discovered near the nucleus of spiral galaxy 2MASXJ12224762+0536247. While its light curve resembles that of SN 1998S, its spectral evolution does not. We see indications of CSM interaction in the strong intermediate-width emission features, the high luminosity (peak at absolute magnitude $M=-19.5$), and the lack of broad absorption features in the spectrum. The H$alpha$ emission undergoes a peculiar transition. At early times it shows a broad blue emission wing out to $-14{,}000$ km $mathrm{s^{-1}}$ and a truncated red wing. Then at late times ($>$ 100$,$days) it shows a truncated blue wing and a very broad red emission wing out to roughly $+20{,}000$ km $mathrm{s^{-1}}$. This late-time broad red wing probably arises in the reverse shock. Spectra also show an asymmetric intermediate-width H$alpha$ component with stronger emission on the red side at late times. The evolution of the asymmetric profiles requires a density structure in the distant CSM that is highly aspherical. Our spectropolarimetric data also suggest asphericity with a strong continuum polarization of $sim 1-3$% and depolarization in the H$alpha$ line, indicating asphericity in the CSM at a level comparable to that in other SNe IIn. We estimate a mass-loss rate of $dot{M} = 0.050, {rm M}_{odot},mathrm{yr^{-1}}$ for $v_{rm pre} = 100$$,$km$,$$mathrm{s^{-1}}$ extending back at least 75$,$yr prior to the SN. The strong departure from axisymmetry in the CSM of SN 2012ab may suggest that the progenitor was an eccentric binary system undergoing eruptive mass loss.
We present late-time observations of the site of the Type Ibn supernova (SN) 2006jc acquired with the Hubble Space Telescope Advanced Camera for Surveys. A faint blue source is recovered at the SN position with brightness $m_{F435W}=26.76pm0.20$, $m_{F555W}=26.60pm0.23$ and $m_{F625W} = 26.32pm0.19$ mags, although there is no detection in a contemporaneous narrow-band $mathrm{Halpha}$ image. The spectral energy distribution of the late-time source is well fit by a stellar-like spectrum ($log T_{eff} > 3.7$ and $log L / L_{odot} > 4$) subject to only a small degree of reddening consistent with that estimated for SN~2006jc itself at early-times. The lack of further outbursts after the explosion of SN~2006jc suggests that the precursor outburst originated from the progenitor. The possibility of the source being a compact host cluster is ruled out on the basis of the sources faintness, however the possibility that the late-time source maybe an unresolved light echo originating in a shell or sphere of pre-SN dust (within a radius $1mathrm{pc}$) is also discussed. Irrespective of the nature of the late-time source, these observations rule out a luminous blue variable as a companion to the progenitor of SN~2006jc.
ASASSN-14ms may represent the most luminous Type Ibn supernova (SN~Ibn) ever detected, with an absolute U-band magnitude brighter than -22.0 mag and a total bolometric luminosity >1.0x10^{44} erg/s near maximum light. The early-time spectra of this SN are characterized by a blue continuum on which are superimposed narrow P~Cygni profile lines of He I, suggesting the presence of slowly moving (~1000 km/s), He-rich circumstellar material (CSM). At 1--2 months after maximum brightness, the He I line profiles become only slightly broader, with blueshifted velocities of 2000--3000 km/s, consistent with the CSM shell being continuously accelerated by the SN light and ejecta. Like most SNe~Ibn, the light curves of ASASSN-14ms show rapid post-peak evolution, dropping by ~7 mag in the V band over three months. Such a rapid post-peak decline and high luminosity can be explained with interaction between SN ejecta and helium-rich CSM of 0.9~M_{odot} at a distance of~10^{15} cm. The CSM around ASASSN-14ms is estimated to originate from a pre-explosion event with a mass-loss rate of 6.7~M_odot /yr (assuming a velocity of ~1000 km/s), which is consistent with abundant He-rich material violently ejected during the late Wolf-Rayet (WN9-11 or Opfe) stage. After examining the light curves for a sample of SNe~Ibn, we find that the more luminous ones tend to have slower post-peak decline rates, reflecting that the observed differences may arise primarily from discrepancies in the CSM distribution around the massive progenitors.
The Fast Blue Optical Transient (FBOT) ATLAS18qqn (AT2018cow) has a light curve as bright as superluminous supernovae but rises and falls much faster. We model this light curve by circumstellar interaction of a pulsational pair-instability (PPI) supernova (SN) model based on our PPISN models studied in previous work. We focus on the 42 $M_odot$ He star (core of a 80 $M_{odot}$ star) which has circumstellar matter of mass 0.50 $M_odot$. With the parameterized mass cut and the kinetic energy of explosion $E$, we perform hydrodynamical calculations of nucleosynthesis and optical light curves of PPISN models. The optical light curve of the first $sim$ 20 days of AT2018cow is well-reproduced by the shock heating of circumstellar matter for the $42 ~M_{odot}$ He star with $E = 5 times 10^{51}$ erg. After day 20, the light curve is reproduced by the radioactive decay of 0.6 $M_odot$ $^{56}$Co, which is a decay product of $^{56}$Ni in the explosion. We also examine how the light curve shape depends on the various model parameters, such as CSM structure and composition. We also discuss (1) other possible energy sources and their constraints, (2) origin of observed high-energy radiation, and (3) how our result depends on the radiative transfer codes. Based on our successful model for AT2018cow and the model for SLSN with the CSM mass as large as $20 ~M_odot)$, we propose the working hypothesis that PPISN produces SLSNe if CSM is massive enough and FBOTs if CSM is less than $sim 1 ~M_odot$.
Context: Type Ibn supernovae are a rare class of stripped envelope supernovae interacting with a helium-rich CSM. The majority of the SNe Ibn reported display a surprising homogeneity in their fast lightcurves and starforming hosts. Aims: We present the discovery and study of SN 2020bqj (ZTF20aalrqbu), a SN Ibn with a long-duration peak plateau lasting 40 days and hosted by a faint low-mass galaxy. We aim to explain its peculiar properties using an extensive data set. Methods: We compare the evolution of SN 2020bqj with SNe Ibn from the literature. We fit the bolometric and multi-band lightcurves with different powering mechanism models. Results: The risetime, peak magnitude and spectral features of SN 2020bqj are consistent with those of most SNe Ibn, but the SN is a clear outlier based on its bright, long-lasting peak plateau and low host mass. We show through modeling that the lightcurve can be powered predominantly by shock heating from the interaction of the SN ejecta and a dense CSM. The peculiar Type Ibn SN 2011hw is a close analog to SN 2020bqj, suggesting a similar progenitor and CSM scenario. In this scenario a very massive progenitor star in the transitional phase between a luminous blue variable and a compact Wolf-Rayet star undergoes core-collapse, embedded in a dense helium-rich CSM with an elevated opacity compared to normal SNe Ibn, due to the presence of residual hydrogen. This scenario is consistent with the observed properties of SN 2020bqj and the modeling results. Conclusions: SN 2020bqj is a compelling example of a transitional SN Ibn/IIn based on not only its spectral features, but also its lightcurve, host galaxy properties and the inferred progenitor properties. The strong similarity with SN 2011hw suggests this subclass may be the result of a progenitor in a stellar evolution phase that is distinct from those of progenitors of regular SNe Ibn.