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arXiv · 1209.6320

The Unprecedented 2012 Outburst of SN 2009ip: A Luminous Blue Variable Becomes a True Supernova

Jon C. Mauerhan·Nathan Smith·Alexei Filippenko·Kyle Blanchard·Peter Blanchard·Chadwick F. E. Casper·S. Bradley Cenko·Kelsey I. Clubb·Daniel Cohen·Kiera Fuller·Gary Li·Jeffrey M. Silverman
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Abstract

Some reports of supernova (SN) discoveries turn out not to be true core-collapse explosions. One such case was SN 2009ip, which was recognized to be a luminous blue variable (LBV) eruption. This source had a massive hot progenitor star identified in pre-explosion data, it had documented evidence of pre-outburst variability, and it was subsequently discovered to have a 2nd outburst in 2010. This same source rebrightened again in 2012, and early spectra showed the same narrow-line profiles as before, suggesting another LBV-like eruption. We present new photometry and spectroscopy of SN 2009ip, indicating that it has transitioned into a true SN. The most striking discovery in these data is that unlike previous reports, the spectrum exhibited Balmer lines with very broad P-Cygni profiles characteristic of normal Type II supernovae (SNe II), in addition to narrow emission lines seen in SNe IIn and LBVs. Emission components have FWHM 8000 km/s, while the P-Cygni absorption component has blue wings extending to -13,000 km/s. These velocities are typical of SNe II, but have never been associated with emission lines from a nonterminal LBV-like eruption. Initially, the peak absolute magnitude seemed fainter than that of normal SNe. However, after a brief period of fading, the source quickly brightened again to M_R=-17.5 mag over a couple days. The broad lines mostly disappeared, and the spectrum began to resemble the early optically thick phases of SNe IIn. Two weeks later the source leveled off near -18 mag, after which broad emission lines again developed in the spectrum as the source faded. We conclude that the 2012 outburst of SN 2009ip was the result of a true core-collapse SN IIn that occured when the progenitor star was in an LBV-like outburst phase, and where the SN was initially faint and then rapidly brightened due to interaction with circumstellar material (abridged).

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Jon C. Mauerhan, Nathan Smith, Alexei Filippenko, Kyle Blanchard, Peter Blanchard, Chadwick F. E. Casper, S. Bradley Cenko, Kelsey I. Clubb, Daniel Cohen, Kiera Fuller, Gary Li, Jeffrey M. Silverman. 2012-09-27. The Unprecedented 2012 Outburst of SN 2009ip: A Luminous Blue Variable Becomes a True Supernova. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stt009

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