Emmanouil Chatzopoulos

Fast evolving pair-instability supernova models: evolution, explosion, light curves

With an increasing number of superluminous supernovae (SLSNe) discovered the question of their origin remains open and causes heated debates in the supernova community. Currently, there are three proposed mechanisms for SLSNe: (1) pair-instability supernovae (PISN), (2) magnetar-driven supernovae, and (3) models in which the supernova ejecta interacts with a circumstellar material ejected before the explosion. Based on current observations of SLSNe, the PISN origin has been disfavoured for a number of reasons. Many PISN models provide overly broad light curves and too reddened spectra, because of massive ejecta and a high amount of nickel. In the current study we re-examine PISN properties using progenitor models computed with the GENEC code. We calculate supernova explosions with FLASH and light curve evolution with the radiation hydrodynamics code STELLA. We find that high-mass models (200 and 250 solar masses) at relatively high metallicity (Z=0.001) do not retain hydrogen in the outer layers and produce relatively fast evolving PISNe Type I and might be suitable to explain some SLSNe. We also investigate uncertainties in light curve modelling due to codes, opacities, the nickel-bubble effect and progenitor structure and composition.

Circumstellar Interaction Models for the Bolometric Light Curve of Type I Superluminous SN 2017egm

We explore simple semi-analytic fits to the bolometric light curve of Gaia17biu/SN 2017egm, the most nearby hydrogen-deficient superluminous supernova (SLSN I) yet discovered. SN 2017egm has a quasi-bolometric light curve that is uncharacteristic of other SLSN I by having a nearly linear rise to maximum and decline from peak, with a very sharp transition. Magnetar models have difficulty explaining the sharp peak and may tend to be too bright 20 days after maximum. Light curves powered only by radioactive decay of 56Ni fail on similar grounds and because they demand greater nickel mass than ejecta mass. Simple models based on circumstellar interaction (CSI) do have a sharp peak corresponding to the epoch when the forward shock breaks out of the optically thick circumstellar medium or the reverse shock reaches the inside of the ejecta. We find that models based on CSI with a constant-density shell provide an interesting fit to the bolometric light curve from 15 days before to 15 days after peak light of SN 2017egm and that both magnetar and radioactive decay models fail to fit the sharp peak. Future photometric observations should easily discriminate basic CSI models from basic magnetar models. The implications of a CSI model are briefly discussed.

SN2012ab: a peculiar Type IIn supernova with aspherical circumstellar material

NSF [AST-1210599, AST-1312221, AST-1515559, AST-1211916, AST-1109881, PhY-0801007, AST-1009571, AST-1210311]; Research Corporation for Science Advancement; NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowship [AST-1302771]; TABASGO Foundation; Gary and Cynthia Bengier; Christopher R. Redlich Fund; Richard & Rhoda Goldman Fund; Miller Institute for Basic Research in Science (U.C. Berkeley); NASA [NNX08AV63G]; Australian Research Council; University of New South Wales; University of Texas; University of Michigan; W.M. Keck Foundation