Early NIR echo and the time variable mass loss history of Type IIn SN 2024kgi

Abstract

We present a comprehensive analysis of the long-term photometric and spectroscopic monitoring campaign of the Type IIn Supernova (SN) 2024kgi. The SN reaches at peak an $r$-band absolute magnitude of $-19.81\pm 0.06$ mag and a bolometric luminosity of $\sim 2\times 10^{43}$ erg s${}^{-1}$. We observe a break in the lightcurve at day $\sim 312$, after which the luminosity decline changes from $t^{-1.0}$ to $t^{-4.5}$, likely due to the shock sweeping the dense CSM. We introduce a semi-analytical lightcurve modeling approach for CSM-interaction in transients that accounts for variable diffusion time. We hence estimate a CSM mass of $2.34_{-1.6}^{+11.8}{M}_{\odot }$ and with a density profile ${\rho }_{csm}\propto r^{-2.74}$, indicating progressively increasing mass loss toward the SN explosion. The ejecta signatures emerge as broad H, He, and Ca II triplet lines, at day $\sim 80$, much earlier than expected from a spherically symmetric CSM, suggesting asymmetry in the CSM. After the lightcurve break, the H lines exhibit a wavelength-dependent deficit in the red-wing flux, indicating new dust formation in the ejecta and/or in the post-shock gas. We observe an NIR excess from day $\sim 40$ onwards. We attribute the early NIR excess before the lightcurve break solely to the NIR echo from pre-existing dust, as there are no other indications for new dust formation. The late-time NIR excess likely has contributions from both the preexisting and newly formed dust. The steady increase in mass loss, slow CSM velocity, and asymmetric CSM favor a binary interaction-induced mass loss.

Accepted for publication in ApJ; 28 pages, 4 tables, 9 figures