Interaction-powered supernovae: Rise-time vs. peak-luminosity correlation and the shock-breakout velocity

Abstract

Interaction of supernova (SN) ejecta with the optically thick circumstellar medium (CSM) of a progenitor star can result in a bright, long-lived shock breakout event. Candidates for such SNe include Type IIn and superluminous SNe. If some of these SNe are powered by interaction, then there should be a relation between their peak luminosity, bolometric light-curve rise time, and shock-breakout velocity. Given that the shock velocity during shock breakout is not measured, we expect a correlation, with a significant spread, between the rise time and the peak luminosity of these SNe. Here, we present a sample of 15 SNe IIn for which we have good constraints on their rise time and peak luminosity from observations obtained using the Palomar Transient Factory. We report on a possible correlation between the R-band rise time and peak luminosity of these SNe, with a false-alarm probability of 3%. Assuming that these SNe are powered by interaction, combining these observables and theory allows us to deduce lower limits on the shock-breakout velocity. The lower limits on the shock velocity we find are consistent with what is expected for SNe (i.e., ~10^4 km/s). This supports the suggestion that the early-time light curves of SNe IIn are caused by shock breakout in a dense CSM. We note that such a correlation can arise from other physical mechanisms. Performing such a test on other classes of SNe (e.g., superluminous SNe) can be used to rule out the interaction model for a class of events.

Accepted to ApJ, 6 pages

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• Supernova ejecta interacting with a circumstellar disk. I. two-dimensional radiation-hydrodynamic simulations
• Constraining Physical Properties of Type IIn Supernovae through Rise Times and Peak Luminosities
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• A systematic study on the rise time-peak luminosity relation for bright optical transients powered by wind shock breakout
• The luminous Type IIN supernova SN 2017hcc: Infrared bright, X-ray and radio faint
• Extended Self-similar Solution for Circumstellar Material-Supernova Ejecta Interaction
• Extremely energetic supernova explosions embedded in a massive circumstellar medium: the case of SN 2016aps