Issue |
A&A
Volume 512, March-April 2010
|
|
---|---|---|
Article Number | A70 | |
Number of page(s) | 19 | |
Section | Stellar structure and evolution | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/200913004 | |
Published online | 07 April 2010 |
Two type Ic supernovae in low-metallicity, dwarf galaxies: diversity of explosions
1
Astrophysics Research Centre, School of Maths and Physics, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, Northern Ireland, UK e-mail: dyoung06@qub.ac.uk
2
INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, vicolo dell'Osservatorio 5, 35122 Padova, Italy
3
Isaac Newton Group, Apartado 321, 38700 Santa Cruz de La Palma, Spain
4
Astrophysics Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, Twelve Quays House, Egerton Wharf, Birkenhead, CH41 1LD, UK
5
Astronomical Institute of the Charles University, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, V Holešovičkách 2, 18000, Praha 8, Czech Republic
6
Tuorla Observatory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Turku, Väisäläntie 20, 21500 Piikkiö, Finland
7
Leiden Observatory, Leiden University, Postbus 9513, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands
8
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK
Received:
28
July
2009
Accepted:
15
December
2009
Aims. The aim of this paper is to discuss the nature of two type Ic supernovae SN 2007bg and SN 2007bi and their host galaxies. Both supernovae were discovered in wide-field, non-targeted surveys and are found to be associated with sub-luminous blue dwarf galaxies identified in SDSS images.
Methods. We present BVRI photometry and optical spectroscopy of SN 2007bg and SN 2007bi and their host galaxies. Their lightcurves and spectra are compared to those of other type Ic SNe and analysis of these data provides estimates of the energetics, total ejected masses and synthesised mass of 56Ni. Detection of the host galaxy emission lines allows for metallicity measurements.
Results. Neither SNe 2007bg nor 2007bi were found in association with an observed GRB, but from estimates of the metallicities of their
host-galaxies they are found to inhabit similar low-metallicity environments as GRB associated supernovae. The radio-bright SN 2007bg
is hosted by an extremely sub-luminous galaxy of magnitude MB = -12.4 ± 0.6 mag and an estimated oxygen abundance of
12+log(O/H) = 8.18 ± 0.17
(on the Pettini & Pagel 2004 scale). The early lightcurve evolution of SN 2007bg matches the fast-pace decline of SN 1994I giving
it one of the fastest post-maximum decline rates of all broad-lined type Ic supernovae known to date and, when combined with its
high expansion velocities, a high kinetic energy to ejected mass ratio (EK/Mej~2.7). We also show that SN 2007bi
is possibly the most luminous type Ic known, reaching a peak magnitude of ~ -21.3 mag and displays a remarkably slow
decline, following the radioactive decay rate of 56Co to 56Fe throughout the course of its observed lifetime. SN 2007bi also
displays an extreme longevity in its spectral evolution and is still not fully nebular at approximately one year post-maximum
brightness. From a simple model of the bolometric light curve of SN 2007bi we estimate a total ejected 56Ni mass of
MNi = 3.5-4.5
, the largest 56Ni mass measured in the ejecta of a supernova to date. There are two models
that could explain the high luminosity and large ejected 56Ni mass. One is a pair-instability supernova (PISN) which has been
predicted to occur for massive stars at low metallicities. We measure the host galaxy metallicity of SN 2007bi to be
12+log(O/H) = 8.15 ± 0.15 (on the McGaugh 1991 scale) which is somewhat high to be consistent
with the PISN model. An alternative is the core-collapse of a C+O star of 20-40
which is the core of a star of
originally 50-100
.
Key words: supernovae: individual: SN 2007bg / galaxies: dwarf / Galaxy: abundances / supernovae: individual: SN 2007bi
© ESO, 2010
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