ASASSN-15lh: A highly super-luminous supernova

Journal
Date Issued
2016
Author(s)
Dong, Subo
•
Shappee, B. J.
•
Prieto, J. L.
•
Jha, S. W.
•
Stanek, K. Z.
•
Holoien, T. W. -S.
•
Kochanek, C. S.
•
Thompson, T. A.
•
Morrell, N.
•
Thompson, I. B.
•
Basu, U.
•
Beacom, J. F.
•
Bersier, D.
•
Brimacombe, J.
•
Brown, J. S.
•
•
Chen, Ping
•
Conseil, E.
•
Danilet, A. B.
•
Falco, E.
•
Grupe, D.
•
Kiyota, S.
•
Masi, G.
•
Nicholls, B.
•
Olivares E., F.
•
Pignata, G.
•
Pojmanski, G.
•
Simonian, G. V.
•
Szczygiel, D. M.
•
Woźniak, P. R.
DOI
Abstract
We report the discovery of ASASSN-15lh (SN 2015L), which we interpret as the most luminous supernova yet found. At redshift z = 0.2326, ASASSN-15lh reached an absolute magnitude of Mu,AB = -23.5 ± 0.1 and bolometric luminosity Lbol = (2.2 ± 0.2) × 1045 ergs s-1, which is more than twice as luminous as any previously known supernova. It has several major features characteristic of the hydrogen-poor super-luminous supernovae (SLSNe-I), whose energy sources and progenitors are currently poorly understood. In contrast to most previously known SLSNe-I that reside in star-forming dwarf galaxies, ASASSN-15lh appears to be hosted by a luminous galaxy (MK ≈ -25.5) with little star formation. In the 4 months since first detection, ASASSN-15lh radiated (1.1 ± 0.2) × 1052 ergs, challenging the magnetar model for its engine.
Volume
351
Issue
6270
Start page
257
Uri
Url
Issn Identifier
0036-8075
Ads BibCode
2016Sci...351..257D
Rights
open.access
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