Ofek, Eran O., Arcavi, Iair, Tal, David, Sullivan, Mark, Gal-Yam, Avishay, Kulkarni, Shrinivas R., Nugent, Peter E., Ben-Ami, Sagi, Bersier, David, Cao, Yi, Cenko, S. Bradley, De Cia, Annalisa, Filippenko, Alexei V., Fransson, Claes, Kasliwal, Mansi M., Laher, Russ, Surace, Jason, Quimby, Robert and Yaron, Ofer (2014) Interaction-powered supernovae: rise-time versus peak-luminosity correlation and the shock-breakout velocity. The Astrophysical Journal, 788 (154), 1-6. (doi:10.1088/0004-637X/788/2/154).
Abstract
Interaction of supernova (SN) ejecta with the optically thick circumstellar medium (CSM) of a progenitor star can result in a bright, long-lived shock-breakout event. Candidates for such SNe include Type IIn and superluminous SNe. If some of these SNe are powered by interaction, then there should be a specific relation between their peak luminosity, bolometric light-curve rise time, and shock-breakout velocity. Given that the shock velocity during shock breakout is not measured, we expect a correlation, with a significant spread, between the rise time and the peak luminosity of these SNe. Here, we present a sample of 15 SNe IIn for which we have good constraints on their rise time and peak luminosity from observations obtained using the Palomar Transient Factory. We report on a possible correlation between the R-band rise time and peak luminosity of these SNe, with a false-alarm probability of 3%. Assuming that these SNe are powered by interaction, combining these observables and theory allows us to deduce lower limits on the shock-breakout velocity. The lower limits on the shock velocity we find are consistent with what is expected for SNe (i.e., ~104 km s–1). This supports the suggestion that the early-time light curves of SNe IIn are caused by shock breakout in a dense CSM. We note that such a correlation can arise from other physical mechanisms. Performing such a test on other classes of SNe (e.g., superluminous SNe) can be used to rule out the interaction model for a class of events.
More information
Identifiers
Catalogue record
Export record
Altmetrics
Contributors
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.