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arXiv · 1404.4085

Interaction-powered supernovae: Rise-time vs. peak-luminosity correlation and the shock-breakout velocity

E. O. Ofek·I. Arcavi·D. Tal·M. Sullivan·A. Gal-Yam·S. R. Kulkarni·P. E. Nugent·S. Ben-Ami·D. Bersier·Y. Cao·S. B. Cenko·A. De Cia·A. V. Filippenko·C. Fransson·M. M. Kasliwal·R. Laher·J. Surace·R. Quimby·O. Yaron
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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 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., ~10^4 km/s). 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.

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E. O. Ofek, I. Arcavi, D. Tal, M. Sullivan, A. Gal-Yam, S. R. Kulkarni, P. E. Nugent, S. Ben-Ami, D. Bersier, Y. Cao, S. B. Cenko, A. De Cia, A. V. Filippenko, C. Fransson, M. M. Kasliwal, R. Laher, J. Surace, R. Quimby, O. Yaron. 2014-04-15. Interaction-powered supernovae: Rise-time vs. peak-luminosity correlation and the shock-breakout velocity. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637x/788/2/154

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