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Super-Luminous Type Ic Supernovae: Catching a Magnetar by the Tail

Inserra, C.; Smartt, S.J.; Jerkstrand, A.; Valenti, S.; Fraser, M.; Wright, D.; Smith, K.; Chen, T.-W.; Kotak, R.; Pastorello, A.; Nicholl, M.; Bresolin, F.; Kudritzki, R.P.; Benetti, S.; Botticella, M.T.; Burgett, W.S.; Chambers, K.C.; Ergon, M.; Flewelling, H.; Fynbo, J.P.U.; Geier, S.; Hodapp, K.W.; Howell, D.A.; Huber, M.; Kaiser, N.; Leloudas, G.; Magill, L.; Magnier, E.A.; McCrum, M.G.; Metcalfe, N.; Price, P.A.; Rest, A.; Sollerman, J.; Sweeney, W.; Taddia, F.; Taubenberger, S.; Tonry, J.L.; Wainscoat, R.J.; Waters, C.; Young, D.

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Authors

C. Inserra

S.J. Smartt

A. Jerkstrand

S. Valenti

M. Fraser

D. Wright

K. Smith

T.-W. Chen

R. Kotak

A. Pastorello

M. Nicholl

F. Bresolin

R.P. Kudritzki

S. Benetti

M.T. Botticella

W.S. Burgett

K.C. Chambers

M. Ergon

H. Flewelling

J.P.U. Fynbo

S. Geier

K.W. Hodapp

D.A. Howell

M. Huber

N. Kaiser

G. Leloudas

L. Magill

E.A. Magnier

M.G. McCrum

P.A. Price

A. Rest

J. Sollerman

W. Sweeney

F. Taddia

S. Taubenberger

J.L. Tonry

R.J. Wainscoat

C. Waters

D. Young



Abstract

We report extensive observational data for five of the lowest redshift Super-Luminous Type Ic Supernovae (SL-SNe Ic) discovered to date, namely, PTF10hgi, SN2011ke, PTF11rks, SN2011kf, and SN2012il. Photometric imaging of the transients at +50 to +230 days after peak combined with host galaxy subtraction reveals a luminous tail phase for four of these SL-SNe. A high-resolution, optical, and near-infrared spectrum from xshooter provides detection of a broad He I λ10830 emission line in the spectrum (+50 days) of SN2012il, revealing that at least some SL-SNe Ic are not completely helium-free. At first sight, the tail luminosity decline rates that we measure are consistent with the radioactive decay of 56Co, and would require 1-4 M ☉ of 56Ni to produce the luminosity. These 56Ni masses cannot be made consistent with the short diffusion times at peak, and indeed are insufficient to power the peak luminosity. We instead favor energy deposition by newborn magnetars as the power source for these objects. A semi-analytical diffusion model with energy input from the spin-down of a magnetar reproduces the extensive light curve data well. The model predictions of ejecta velocities and temperatures which are required are in reasonable agreement with those determined from our observations. We derive magnetar energies of 0.4 lsim E(1051 erg) lsim 6.9 and ejecta masses of 2.3 lsim M ej(M ☉) lsim 8.6. The sample of five SL-SNe Ic presented here, combined with SN 2010gx—the best sampled SL-SNe Ic so far—points toward an explosion driven by a magnetar as a viable explanation for all SL-SNe Ic.

Citation

Inserra, C., Smartt, S., Jerkstrand, A., Valenti, S., Fraser, M., Wright, D., …Young, D. (2013). Super-Luminous Type Ic Supernovae: Catching a Magnetar by the Tail. Astrophysical Journal, 770(2), Article 128. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637x/770/2/128

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Jun 20, 2013
Deposit Date Apr 3, 2014
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Astrophysical Journal
Print ISSN 0004-637X
Electronic ISSN 1538-4357
Publisher American Astronomical Society
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 770
Issue 2
Article Number 128
DOI https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637x/770/2/128
Keywords Stars: magnetars, Supernovae: general, Supernovae: individual (PTF10hgi, PTF11rks, SN 2011ke, SN 2011kf, SN 2012il).

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Copyright Statement
© 2013. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.





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