Narrow absorption lines from intervening material in supernovae. I. Measurements and temporal evolution

Vol. 687
6. Interstellar and circumstellar matter

Narrow absorption lines from intervening material in supernovae. I. Measurements and temporal evolution

It has often been noted by historians and sociologists of science that negative or null results remain in desk drawers. This paper stands as a striking counterexample. The authors present a meticulous study of the absorption lines from presumed circumstellar and galactic environments in early supernova spectra. The result is a caution regarding the interpretation of these lines and their variability, as well as a set of recipes for automated detection and measurement. In this age of big data and machine learning, such studies are needed to provide essential, real-world constraints.