SN 2015bn: A DETAILED MULTI-WAVELENGTH VIEW of A NEARBY SUPERLUMINOUS SUPERNOVA

M. Nicholl; E. Berger; S. J. Smartt; R. Margutti; A. Kamble; K. D. Alexander; T. W. Chen; C. Inserra; I. Arcavi; P. K. Blanchard; R. Cartier; K. C. Chambers; M. J. Childress; R. Chornock; P. S. Cowperthwaite; M. Drout; H. A. Flewelling; M. Fraser; A. Gal-Yam; L. Galbany; J. Harmanen; T. W.S. Holoien; G. Hosseinzadeh; D. A. Howell; M. E. Huber; A. Jerkstrand; E. Kankare; C. S. Kochanek; Z. Y. Lin; R. Lunnan; E. A. Magnier; K. Maguire; C. McCully; M. McDonald; B. D. Metzger; D. Milisavljevic; A. Mitra; T. Reynolds; J. Saario; B. J. Shappee; K. W. Smith; S. Valenti; V. A. Villar; C. Waters; D. R. Young

doi:10.3847/0004-637X/826/1/39

SN 2015bn: A DETAILED MULTI-WAVELENGTH VIEW of A NEARBY SUPERLUMINOUS SUPERNOVA

M. Nicholl
, E. Berger
, S. J. Smartt
, R. Margutti
, A. Kamble
, K. D. Alexander
, T. W. Chen
, C. Inserra
, I. Arcavi
, P. K. Blanchard
, R. Cartier
, K. C. Chambers
, M. J. Childress
, R. Chornock
, P. S. Cowperthwaite
, M. Drout
, H. A. Flewelling
, M. Fraser
, A. Gal-Yam
, L. Galbany

J. Harmanen, T. W.S. Holoien, G. Hosseinzadeh, D. A. Howell, M. E. Huber, A. Jerkstrand, E. Kankare, C. S. Kochanek, Z. Y. Lin, R. Lunnan, E. A. Magnier, K. Maguire, C. McCully, M. McDonald, B. D. Metzger, D. Milisavljevic, A. Mitra, T. Reynolds, J. Saario, B. J. Shappee, K. W. Smith, S. Valenti, V. A. Villar, C. Waters, D. R. Young

Astronomy & Astrophysics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

146 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present observations of SN 2015bn (=PS15ae = CSS141223-113342+004332 = MLS150211-113342+004333), a Type I superluminous supernova (SLSN) at redshift z = 0.1136. As well as being one of the closest SLSNe I yet discovered, it is intrinsically brighter (M_U ≈ -23.1) and in a fainter galaxy (M_B ≈ -16.0) than other SLSNe at . We used this opportunity to collect the most extensive data set for any SLSN I to date, including densely sampled spectroscopy and photometry, from the UV to the NIR, spanning -50 to +250 days from optical maximum. SN 2015bn fades slowly, but exhibits surprising undulations in the light curve on a timescale of 30-50 days, especially in the UV. The spectrum shows extraordinarily slow evolution except for a rapid transformation between +7 and +20-30 days. No narrow emission lines from slow-moving material are observed at any phase. We derive physical properties including the bolometric luminosity, and find slow velocity evolution and non-monotonic temperature and radial evolution. A deep radio limit rules out a healthy off-axis gamma-ray burst, and places constraints on the pre-explosion mass loss. The data can be consistently explained by a ≳ 10 M_⊙ stripped progenitor exploding with erg kinetic energy, forming a magnetar with a spin-down timescale of ∼20 days (thus avoiding a gamma-ray burst) that reheats the ejecta and drives ionization fronts. The most likely alternative scenario - interaction with ∼20 M_⊙ of dense, inhomogeneous circumstellar material - can be tested with continuing radio follow-up.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	39
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	826
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3847/0004-637X/826/1/39
State	Published - Jul 20 2016

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.3847/0004-637X/826/1/39

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Nicholl, M., Berger, E., Smartt, S. J., Margutti, R., Kamble, A., Alexander, K. D., Chen, T. W., Inserra, C., Arcavi, I., Blanchard, P. K., Cartier, R., Chambers, K. C., Childress, M. J., Chornock, R., Cowperthwaite, P. S., Drout, M., Flewelling, H. A., Fraser, M., Gal-Yam, A., ... Young, D. R. (2016). SN 2015bn: A DETAILED MULTI-WAVELENGTH VIEW of A NEARBY SUPERLUMINOUS SUPERNOVA. Astrophysical Journal, 826(1), Article 39. https://doi.org/10.3847/0004-637X/826/1/39

@article{8cfd606fb2434549bbfce6c19dc9e175,

title = "SN 2015bn: A DETAILED MULTI-WAVELENGTH VIEW of A NEARBY SUPERLUMINOUS SUPERNOVA",

abstract = "We present observations of SN 2015bn (=PS15ae = CSS141223-113342+004332 = MLS150211-113342+004333), a Type I superluminous supernova (SLSN) at redshift z = 0.1136. As well as being one of the closest SLSNe I yet discovered, it is intrinsically brighter (MU ≈ -23.1) and in a fainter galaxy (MB ≈ -16.0) than other SLSNe at . We used this opportunity to collect the most extensive data set for any SLSN I to date, including densely sampled spectroscopy and photometry, from the UV to the NIR, spanning -50 to +250 days from optical maximum. SN 2015bn fades slowly, but exhibits surprising undulations in the light curve on a timescale of 30-50 days, especially in the UV. The spectrum shows extraordinarily slow evolution except for a rapid transformation between +7 and +20-30 days. No narrow emission lines from slow-moving material are observed at any phase. We derive physical properties including the bolometric luminosity, and find slow velocity evolution and non-monotonic temperature and radial evolution. A deep radio limit rules out a healthy off-axis gamma-ray burst, and places constraints on the pre-explosion mass loss. The data can be consistently explained by a ≳ 10 M⊙ stripped progenitor exploding with erg kinetic energy, forming a magnetar with a spin-down timescale of ∼20 days (thus avoiding a gamma-ray burst) that reheats the ejecta and drives ionization fronts. The most likely alternative scenario - interaction with ∼20 M⊙ of dense, inhomogeneous circumstellar material - can be tested with continuing radio follow-up.",

author = "M. Nicholl and E. Berger and Smartt, \{S. J.\} and R. Margutti and A. Kamble and Alexander, \{K. D.\} and Chen, \{T. W.\} and C. Inserra and I. Arcavi and Blanchard, \{P. K.\} and R. Cartier and Chambers, \{K. C.\} and Childress, \{M. J.\} and R. Chornock and Cowperthwaite, \{P. S.\} and M. Drout and Flewelling, \{H. A.\} and M. Fraser and A. Gal-Yam and L. Galbany and J. Harmanen and Holoien, \{T. W.S.\} and G. Hosseinzadeh and Howell, \{D. A.\} and Huber, \{M. E.\} and A. Jerkstrand and E. Kankare and Kochanek, \{C. S.\} and Lin, \{Z. Y.\} and R. Lunnan and Magnier, \{E. A.\} and K. Maguire and C. McCully and M. McDonald and Metzger, \{B. D.\} and D. Milisavljevic and A. Mitra and T. Reynolds and J. Saario and Shappee, \{B. J.\} and Smith, \{K. W.\} and S. Valenti and Villar, \{V. A.\} and C. Waters and Young, \{D. R.\}",

year = "2016",

month = jul,

day = "20",

doi = "10.3847/0004-637X/826/1/39",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "826",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal",

issn = "0004-637X",

publisher = "American Astronomical Society",

number = "1",

}

Nicholl, M, Berger, E, Smartt, SJ, Margutti, R, Kamble, A, Alexander, KD, Chen, TW, Inserra, C, Arcavi, I, Blanchard, PK, Cartier, R, Chambers, KC, Childress, MJ, Chornock, R, Cowperthwaite, PS, Drout, M, Flewelling, HA, Fraser, M, Gal-Yam, A, Galbany, L, Harmanen, J, Holoien, TWS, Hosseinzadeh, G, Howell, DA, Huber, ME, Jerkstrand, A, Kankare, E, Kochanek, CS, Lin, ZY, Lunnan, R, Magnier, EA, Maguire, K, McCully, C, McDonald, M, Metzger, BD, Milisavljevic, D, Mitra, A, Reynolds, T, Saario, J, Shappee, BJ, Smith, KW, Valenti, S, Villar, VA, Waters, C & Young, DR 2016, 'SN 2015bn: A DETAILED MULTI-WAVELENGTH VIEW of A NEARBY SUPERLUMINOUS SUPERNOVA', Astrophysical Journal, vol. 826, no. 1, 39. https://doi.org/10.3847/0004-637X/826/1/39

TY - JOUR

T1 - SN 2015bn

T2 - A DETAILED MULTI-WAVELENGTH VIEW of A NEARBY SUPERLUMINOUS SUPERNOVA

AU - Nicholl, M.

AU - Berger, E.

AU - Smartt, S. J.

AU - Margutti, R.

AU - Kamble, A.

AU - Alexander, K. D.

AU - Chen, T. W.

AU - Inserra, C.

AU - Arcavi, I.

AU - Blanchard, P. K.

AU - Cartier, R.

AU - Chambers, K. C.

AU - Childress, M. J.

AU - Chornock, R.

AU - Cowperthwaite, P. S.

AU - Drout, M.

AU - Flewelling, H. A.

AU - Fraser, M.

AU - Gal-Yam, A.

AU - Galbany, L.

AU - Harmanen, J.

AU - Holoien, T. W.S.

AU - Hosseinzadeh, G.

AU - Howell, D. A.

AU - Huber, M. E.

AU - Jerkstrand, A.

AU - Kankare, E.

AU - Kochanek, C. S.

AU - Lin, Z. Y.

AU - Lunnan, R.

AU - Magnier, E. A.

AU - Maguire, K.

AU - McCully, C.

AU - McDonald, M.

AU - Metzger, B. D.

AU - Milisavljevic, D.

AU - Mitra, A.

AU - Reynolds, T.

AU - Saario, J.

AU - Shappee, B. J.

AU - Smith, K. W.

AU - Valenti, S.

AU - Villar, V. A.

AU - Waters, C.

AU - Young, D. R.

PY - 2016/7/20

Y1 - 2016/7/20

N2 - We present observations of SN 2015bn (=PS15ae = CSS141223-113342+004332 = MLS150211-113342+004333), a Type I superluminous supernova (SLSN) at redshift z = 0.1136. As well as being one of the closest SLSNe I yet discovered, it is intrinsically brighter (MU ≈ -23.1) and in a fainter galaxy (MB ≈ -16.0) than other SLSNe at . We used this opportunity to collect the most extensive data set for any SLSN I to date, including densely sampled spectroscopy and photometry, from the UV to the NIR, spanning -50 to +250 days from optical maximum. SN 2015bn fades slowly, but exhibits surprising undulations in the light curve on a timescale of 30-50 days, especially in the UV. The spectrum shows extraordinarily slow evolution except for a rapid transformation between +7 and +20-30 days. No narrow emission lines from slow-moving material are observed at any phase. We derive physical properties including the bolometric luminosity, and find slow velocity evolution and non-monotonic temperature and radial evolution. A deep radio limit rules out a healthy off-axis gamma-ray burst, and places constraints on the pre-explosion mass loss. The data can be consistently explained by a ≳ 10 M⊙ stripped progenitor exploding with erg kinetic energy, forming a magnetar with a spin-down timescale of ∼20 days (thus avoiding a gamma-ray burst) that reheats the ejecta and drives ionization fronts. The most likely alternative scenario - interaction with ∼20 M⊙ of dense, inhomogeneous circumstellar material - can be tested with continuing radio follow-up.

AB - We present observations of SN 2015bn (=PS15ae = CSS141223-113342+004332 = MLS150211-113342+004333), a Type I superluminous supernova (SLSN) at redshift z = 0.1136. As well as being one of the closest SLSNe I yet discovered, it is intrinsically brighter (MU ≈ -23.1) and in a fainter galaxy (MB ≈ -16.0) than other SLSNe at . We used this opportunity to collect the most extensive data set for any SLSN I to date, including densely sampled spectroscopy and photometry, from the UV to the NIR, spanning -50 to +250 days from optical maximum. SN 2015bn fades slowly, but exhibits surprising undulations in the light curve on a timescale of 30-50 days, especially in the UV. The spectrum shows extraordinarily slow evolution except for a rapid transformation between +7 and +20-30 days. No narrow emission lines from slow-moving material are observed at any phase. We derive physical properties including the bolometric luminosity, and find slow velocity evolution and non-monotonic temperature and radial evolution. A deep radio limit rules out a healthy off-axis gamma-ray burst, and places constraints on the pre-explosion mass loss. The data can be consistently explained by a ≳ 10 M⊙ stripped progenitor exploding with erg kinetic energy, forming a magnetar with a spin-down timescale of ∼20 days (thus avoiding a gamma-ray burst) that reheats the ejecta and drives ionization fronts. The most likely alternative scenario - interaction with ∼20 M⊙ of dense, inhomogeneous circumstellar material - can be tested with continuing radio follow-up.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84979231274

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84979231274#tab=citedBy

U2 - 10.3847/0004-637X/826/1/39

DO - 10.3847/0004-637X/826/1/39

M3 - Review article

AN - SCOPUS:84979231274

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 826

JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

IS - 1

M1 - 39

ER -

SN 2015bn: A DETAILED MULTI-WAVELENGTH VIEW of A NEARBY SUPERLUMINOUS SUPERNOVA

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