IPTF15eqv: Multiwavelength Exposé of a Peculiar Calcium-rich Transient

Dan Milisavljevic, Daniel J. Patnaude, John C. Raymond, Maria R. Drout, Raffaella Margutti, Atish Kamble, Ryan Chornock, James Guillochon, Nathan E. Sanders, Jerod T. Parrent, Lorenzo Lovisari, Igor V. Chilingarian, Peter Challis, Robert P. Kirshner, Matthew T. Penny, Koichi Itagaki, J. J. Eldridge, Takashi J. Moriya

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

The progenitor systems of the class of "Ca-rich transients" is a key open issue in time domain astrophysics. These intriguing objects exhibit unusually strong calcium line emissions months after explosion, fall within an intermediate luminosity range, are often found at large projected distances from their host galaxies, and may play a vital role in enriching galaxies and the intergalactic medium. Here we present multiwavelength observations of iPTF15eqv in NGC 3430, which exhibits a unique combination of properties that bridge those observed in Ca-rich transients and SNe Ib/c. iPTF15eqv has among the highest [Ca ii]/[O i] emission line ratios observed to date, yet is more luminous and decays more slowly than other Ca-rich transients. Optical and near-infrared photometry and spectroscopy reveal signatures consistent with the supernova explosion of a ≲ 10 Mo star that was stripped of its H-rich envelope via binary interaction. Distinct chemical abundances and ejecta kinematics suggest that the core collapse occurred through electron-capture processes. Deep limits on possible radio emission made with the Jansky Very Large Array imply a clean environment (n ≲ 0.1 cm-3) within a radius of cm. Chandra X-ray Observatory observations rule out alternative scenarios involving the tidal disruption of a white dwarf (WD) by a black hole, for masses >100 M o. Our results challenge the notion that spectroscopically classified Ca-rich transients only originate from WD progenitor systems, complicate the view that they are all associated with large ejection velocities, and indicate that their chemical abundances may vary widely between events.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number50
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume846
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2017

Funding

IRAF is distributed by the National Optical Astronomy Observatories, which are operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation.

Keywords

  • galaxies: abundances
  • line: identification
  • stars: evolution
  • supernovae: general
  • supernovae: individual (iPTF15eqv, SN 2005E)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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