PS1-12sk IS A PECULIAR SUPERNOVA FROM A He-RICH PROGENITOR SYSTEM IN A BRIGHTEST CLUSTER GALAXY ENVIRONMENT

We report on our discovery and observations of the Pan-STARRS1 supernova (SN) PS1-12sk, a transient with properties that indicate atypical star formation in its host galaxy cluster or pose a challenge to popular progenitor system models for this class of explosion. The optical spectra of PS1-12sk cl...

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Main Author: Friedman, Andrew Samuel
Other Authors: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Program in Science, Technology and Society
Format: Article
Language:en_US
Published: IOP Publishing 2015
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/93202
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author Friedman, Andrew Samuel
author2 Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Program in Science, Technology and Society
author_facet Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Program in Science, Technology and Society
Friedman, Andrew Samuel
author_sort Friedman, Andrew Samuel
collection MIT
description We report on our discovery and observations of the Pan-STARRS1 supernova (SN) PS1-12sk, a transient with properties that indicate atypical star formation in its host galaxy cluster or pose a challenge to popular progenitor system models for this class of explosion. The optical spectra of PS1-12sk classify it as a Type Ibn SN (SN Ibn; cf. SN 2006jc), dominated by intermediate-width (3 × 10[superscript 3] km s[superscript –1]) and time variable He I emission. Our multi-wavelength monitoring establishes the rise time dt ~ 9-23 days and shows an NUV-NIR spectral energy distribution with temperature [> over ~] 17 × 10[superscript 3] K and a peak magnitude of M[subscript z] = –18.88 ± 0.02 mag. SN Ibn spectroscopic properties are commonly interpreted as the signature of a massive star (17-100 M ☉) explosion within an He-enriched circumstellar medium. However, unlike previous SNe Ibn, PS1-12sk is associated with an elliptical brightest cluster galaxy, CGCG 208–042 (z = 0.054) in cluster RXC J0844.9+4258. The expected probability of an event like PS1-12sk in such environments is low given the measured infrequency of core-collapse SNe in red-sequence galaxies compounded by the low volumetric rate of SN Ibn. Furthermore, we find no evidence of star formation at the explosion site to sensitive limits (Σ[subscript Hα] [< over ~] 2 × 10[superscript –3] M[subscript ☉] yr[superscript –1] kpc[superscript –2]). We therefore discuss white dwarf binary systems as a possible progenitor channel for SNe Ibn. We conclude that PS1-12sk represents either a fortuitous and statistically unlikely discovery, evidence for a top-heavy initial mass function in galaxy cluster cooling flow filaments, or the first clue suggesting an alternate progenitor channel for SNe Ibn.
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spelling mit-1721.1/932022022-09-30T08:27:50Z PS1-12sk IS A PECULIAR SUPERNOVA FROM A He-RICH PROGENITOR SYSTEM IN A BRIGHTEST CLUSTER GALAXY ENVIRONMENT Friedman, Andrew Samuel Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Program in Science, Technology and Society Friedman, Andrew Samuel We report on our discovery and observations of the Pan-STARRS1 supernova (SN) PS1-12sk, a transient with properties that indicate atypical star formation in its host galaxy cluster or pose a challenge to popular progenitor system models for this class of explosion. The optical spectra of PS1-12sk classify it as a Type Ibn SN (SN Ibn; cf. SN 2006jc), dominated by intermediate-width (3 × 10[superscript 3] km s[superscript –1]) and time variable He I emission. Our multi-wavelength monitoring establishes the rise time dt ~ 9-23 days and shows an NUV-NIR spectral energy distribution with temperature [> over ~] 17 × 10[superscript 3] K and a peak magnitude of M[subscript z] = –18.88 ± 0.02 mag. SN Ibn spectroscopic properties are commonly interpreted as the signature of a massive star (17-100 M ☉) explosion within an He-enriched circumstellar medium. However, unlike previous SNe Ibn, PS1-12sk is associated with an elliptical brightest cluster galaxy, CGCG 208–042 (z = 0.054) in cluster RXC J0844.9+4258. The expected probability of an event like PS1-12sk in such environments is low given the measured infrequency of core-collapse SNe in red-sequence galaxies compounded by the low volumetric rate of SN Ibn. Furthermore, we find no evidence of star formation at the explosion site to sensitive limits (Σ[subscript Hα] [< over ~] 2 × 10[superscript –3] M[subscript ☉] yr[superscript –1] kpc[superscript –2]). We therefore discuss white dwarf binary systems as a possible progenitor channel for SNe Ibn. We conclude that PS1-12sk represents either a fortuitous and statistically unlikely discovery, evidence for a top-heavy initial mass function in galaxy cluster cooling flow filaments, or the first clue suggesting an alternate progenitor channel for SNe Ibn. National Science Foundation (U.S.). Science, Technology, and Society (Postdoctoral Fellowship) National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Grant AST-1009749) 2015-01-29T18:37:38Z 2015-01-29T18:37:38Z 2013-05 2013-02 Article http://purl.org/eprint/type/JournalArticle 0004-637X 1538-4357 http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/93202 Sanders, N. E., A. M. Soderberg, R. J. Foley, R. Chornock, D. Milisavljevic, R. Margutti, M. R. Drout, et al. “PS1-12sk IS A PECULIAR SUPERNOVA FROM A He-RICH PROGENITOR SYSTEM IN A BRIGHTEST CLUSTER GALAXY ENVIRONMENT.” The Astrophysical Journal 769, no. 1 (May 2, 2013): 39. en_US http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0004-637x/769/1/39 Astrophysical Journal Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use. application/pdf IOP Publishing American Astronomical Society
spellingShingle Friedman, Andrew Samuel
PS1-12sk IS A PECULIAR SUPERNOVA FROM A He-RICH PROGENITOR SYSTEM IN A BRIGHTEST CLUSTER GALAXY ENVIRONMENT
title PS1-12sk IS A PECULIAR SUPERNOVA FROM A He-RICH PROGENITOR SYSTEM IN A BRIGHTEST CLUSTER GALAXY ENVIRONMENT
title_full PS1-12sk IS A PECULIAR SUPERNOVA FROM A He-RICH PROGENITOR SYSTEM IN A BRIGHTEST CLUSTER GALAXY ENVIRONMENT
title_fullStr PS1-12sk IS A PECULIAR SUPERNOVA FROM A He-RICH PROGENITOR SYSTEM IN A BRIGHTEST CLUSTER GALAXY ENVIRONMENT
title_full_unstemmed PS1-12sk IS A PECULIAR SUPERNOVA FROM A He-RICH PROGENITOR SYSTEM IN A BRIGHTEST CLUSTER GALAXY ENVIRONMENT
title_short PS1-12sk IS A PECULIAR SUPERNOVA FROM A He-RICH PROGENITOR SYSTEM IN A BRIGHTEST CLUSTER GALAXY ENVIRONMENT
title_sort ps1 12sk is a peculiar supernova from a he rich progenitor system in a brightest cluster galaxy environment
url http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/93202
work_keys_str_mv AT friedmanandrewsamuel ps112skisapeculiarsupernovafromaherichprogenitorsysteminabrightestclustergalaxyenvironment