From out of the Blue: Swift Links 2002es-like, 2003fg-like, and Early Time Bump Type Ia Supernovae

We collect a sample of 42 Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) with Swift UV photometry and well-measured early time light-curve rises and find that 2002es-like and 2003fg-like SNe Ia have different prepeak UV color evolutions compared to normal SNe Ia and other spectroscopic subtypes. Specifically, 2002es-like and 2003fg-like SNe Ia are cleanly separated from other SNe Ia subtypes by UVM2 ‑ UVW1 ≳ 1.0 mag at t = ‑ 10 days relative to B-band maximum. Furthermore, the SNe Ia that exhibit nonmonotonic bumps in their rising light curves, to date, consist solely of 2002es-like and 2003fg-like SNe Ia. We also find that SNe Ia with two-component power-law rises are more luminous than SNe Ia with single-component power-law rises at prepeak epochs. Given the similar UV colors, along with other observational similarities, we discuss a possible progenitor scenario that places 2002es-like and 2003fg-like SNe Ia along a continuum and may explain the unique UV colors, early time bumps, and other observational similarities between these objects. Ultimately, further observations of both subtypes, especially in the near-infrared, are critical for constraining models of these peculiar thermonuclear explosions.