PS1-12sk is a Peculiar Supernova from a He-rich Progenitor System in a Brightest Cluster Galaxy Environment
Abstract
We report on our discovery and observations of the Pan-STARRS1 supernova (SN) PS1-12sk, a transient with properties that indicate atypical star formation in its host galaxy cluster or pose a challenge to popular progenitor system models for this class of explosion. The optical spectra of PS1-12sk classify it as a Type Ibn SN (SN Ibn cf. SN 2006jc), dominated by intermediate-width (3 × 103 km s-1) and time variable He I emission. Our multi-wavelength monitoring establishes the rise time dt ~ 9-23 days and shows an NUV-NIR spectral energy distribution with temperature >~ 17 × 103 K and a peak magnitude of Mz = -18.88 ± 0.02 mag. SN Ibn spectroscopic properties are commonly interpreted as the signature of a massive star (17-100 M ⊙) explosion within an He-enriched circumstellar medium. However, unlike previous SNe Ibn, PS1-12sk is associated with an elliptical brightest cluster galaxy, CGCG 208-042 (z = 0.054) in cluster RXC J0844.9+4258. The expected probability of an event like PS1-12sk in such environments is low given the measured infrequency of core-collapse SNe in red-sequence galaxies compounded by the low volumetric rate of SN Ibn. Furthermore, we find no evidence of star formation at the explosion site to sensitive limits (ΣHα <~ 2 × 10-3 M ⊙ yr-1 kpc-2). We therefore discuss white dwarf binary systems as a possible progenitor channel for SNe Ibn. We conclude that PS1-12sk represents either a fortuitous and statistically unlikely discovery, evidence for a top-heavy initial mass function in galaxy cluster cooling flow filaments, or the first clue suggesting an alternate progenitor channel for SNe Ibn.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- May 2013
- DOI:
- 10.1088/0004-637X/769/1/39
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1303.1818
- Bibcode:
- 2013ApJ...769...39S
- Keywords:
-
- galaxies: clusters: general;
- galaxies: star formation;
- stars: winds;
- outflows;
- supernovae: general;
- supernovae: individual: PS1-12sk;
- Astrophysics - Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 16 pages, 9 figures, v2 as accepted by ApJ, more information at http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/~nsanders/papers/12sk/summary.htm