Type Iax Supernovae: A new class of stellar explosion

Ryan J. Foley; P. J. Challis; R. Chornock; M. Ganeshalingam; W. Li; G. H. Marion; N. I. Morrell; G. Pignata; M. D. Stritzinger; J. M. Silverman; X. Wang; J. P. Anderson; A. V. Filippenko; W. L. Freedman; M. Hamuy; S. W. Jha; R. P. Kirshner; C. McCully; S. E. Persson; M. M. Phillips; D. E. Reichart; A. M. Soderberg

doi:10.1088/0004-637X/767/1/57

Type Iax Supernovae: A new class of stellar explosion

Ryan J. Foley, P. J. Challis, R. Chornock, M. Ganeshalingam, W. Li, G. H. Marion, N. I. Morrell, G. Pignata, M. D. Stritzinger, J. M. Silverman, X. Wang, J. P. Anderson, A. V. Filippenko, W. L. Freedman, M. Hamuy, S. W. Jha, R. P. Kirshner, C. McCully, S. E. Persson, M. M. PhillipsD. E. Reichart, A. M. Soderberg

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

We describe observed properties of the Type Iax class of supernovae (SNe Iax), consisting of SNe observationally similar to its prototypical member, SN 2002cx. The class currently has 25 members, and we present optical photometry and/or optical spectroscopy for most of them. SNe Iax are spectroscopically similar to SNe Ia, but have lower maximum-light velocities (2000 ≲ |v| ≲ 8000 km s^-1), typically lower peak magnitudes (-14.2 ≥ M _{V, peak} ≳ -18.9 mag), and most have hot photospheres. Relative to SNe Ia, SNe Iax have low luminosities for their light-curve shape. There is a correlation between luminosity and light-curve shape, similar to that of SNe Ia, but offset from that of SNe Ia and with larger scatter. Despite a host-galaxy morphology distribution that is highly skewed to late-type galaxies without any SNe Iax discovered in elliptical galaxies, there are several indications that the progenitor stars are white dwarfs (WDs): evidence of C/O burning in their maximum-light spectra, low (typically t0.5 M _·) ejecta masses, strong Fe lines in their late-time spectra, a lack of X-ray detections, and deep limits on massive stars and star formation at the SN sites. However, two SNe Iax show strong He lines in their spectra. The progenitor system and explosion model that best fits all of the data is a binary system of a C/O WD that accretes matter from a He star and has a deflagration. At least some of the time, this explosion will not disrupt the WD. The small number of SNe in this class prohibit a detailed analysis of the homogeneity and heterogeneity of the entire class. We estimate that in a given volume there are SNe Iax for every 100 SNe Ia, and for every 1 M _· of iron generated by SNe Ia at z = 0, SNe Iax generate t0.036 M_·. Being the largest class of peculiar SNe, thousands of SNe Iax will be discovered by LSST. Future detailed observations of SNe Iax should further our understanding of both their progenitor systems and explosions as well as those of SNe Ia.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	57
Journal	Astrophysical Journal
Volume	767
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/767/1/57
State	Published - Apr 10 2013
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

supernovae: general
supernovae: individual

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

Online availability

10.1088/0004-637X/767/1/57

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Foley, R. J., Challis, P. J., Chornock, R., Ganeshalingam, M., Li, W., Marion, G. H., Morrell, N. I., Pignata, G., Stritzinger, M. D., Silverman, J. M., Wang, X., Anderson, J. P., Filippenko, A. V., Freedman, W. L., Hamuy, M., Jha, S. W., Kirshner, R. P., McCully, C., Persson, S. E., ... Soderberg, A. M. (2013). Type Iax Supernovae: A new class of stellar explosion. Astrophysical Journal, 767(1), [57]. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/767/1/57

Foley, RJ, Challis, PJ, Chornock, R, Ganeshalingam, M, Li, W, Marion, GH, Morrell, NI, Pignata, G, Stritzinger, MD, Silverman, JM, Wang, X, Anderson, JP, Filippenko, AV, Freedman, WL, Hamuy, M, Jha, SW, Kirshner, RP, McCully, C, Persson, SE, Phillips, MM, Reichart, DE & Soderberg, AM 2013, 'Type Iax Supernovae: A new class of stellar explosion', Astrophysical Journal, vol. 767, no. 1, 57. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/767/1/57

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title = "Type Iax Supernovae: A new class of stellar explosion",

abstract = "We describe observed properties of the Type Iax class of supernovae (SNe Iax), consisting of SNe observationally similar to its prototypical member, SN 2002cx. The class currently has 25 members, and we present optical photometry and/or optical spectroscopy for most of them. SNe Iax are spectroscopically similar to SNe Ia, but have lower maximum-light velocities (2000 ≲ |v| ≲ 8000 km s-1), typically lower peak magnitudes (-14.2 ≥ M V, peak ≳ -18.9 mag), and most have hot photospheres. Relative to SNe Ia, SNe Iax have low luminosities for their light-curve shape. There is a correlation between luminosity and light-curve shape, similar to that of SNe Ia, but offset from that of SNe Ia and with larger scatter. Despite a host-galaxy morphology distribution that is highly skewed to late-type galaxies without any SNe Iax discovered in elliptical galaxies, there are several indications that the progenitor stars are white dwarfs (WDs): evidence of C/O burning in their maximum-light spectra, low (typically t0.5 M ·) ejecta masses, strong Fe lines in their late-time spectra, a lack of X-ray detections, and deep limits on massive stars and star formation at the SN sites. However, two SNe Iax show strong He lines in their spectra. The progenitor system and explosion model that best fits all of the data is a binary system of a C/O WD that accretes matter from a He star and has a deflagration. At least some of the time, this explosion will not disrupt the WD. The small number of SNe in this class prohibit a detailed analysis of the homogeneity and heterogeneity of the entire class. We estimate that in a given volume there are SNe Iax for every 100 SNe Ia, and for every 1 M · of iron generated by SNe Ia at z = 0, SNe Iax generate t0.036 M·. Being the largest class of peculiar SNe, thousands of SNe Iax will be discovered by LSST. Future detailed observations of SNe Iax should further our understanding of both their progenitor systems and explosions as well as those of SNe Ia.",

keywords = "supernovae: general, supernovae: individual",

author = "Foley, {Ryan J.} and Challis, {P. J.} and R. Chornock and M. Ganeshalingam and W. Li and Marion, {G. H.} and Morrell, {N. I.} and G. Pignata and Stritzinger, {M. D.} and Silverman, {J. M.} and X. Wang and Anderson, {J. P.} and Filippenko, {A. V.} and Freedman, {W. L.} and M. Hamuy and Jha, {S. W.} and Kirshner, {R. P.} and C. McCully and Persson, {S. E.} and Phillips, {M. M.} and Reichart, {D. E.} and Soderberg, {A. M.}",

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T1 - Type Iax Supernovae

T2 - A new class of stellar explosion

AU - Foley, Ryan J.

AU - Challis, P. J.

AU - Chornock, R.

AU - Ganeshalingam, M.

AU - Li, W.

AU - Marion, G. H.

AU - Morrell, N. I.

AU - Pignata, G.

AU - Stritzinger, M. D.

AU - Silverman, J. M.

AU - Wang, X.

AU - Anderson, J. P.

AU - Filippenko, A. V.

AU - Freedman, W. L.

AU - Hamuy, M.

AU - Jha, S. W.

AU - Kirshner, R. P.

AU - McCully, C.

AU - Persson, S. E.

AU - Phillips, M. M.

AU - Reichart, D. E.

AU - Soderberg, A. M.

PY - 2013/4/10

Y1 - 2013/4/10

N2 - We describe observed properties of the Type Iax class of supernovae (SNe Iax), consisting of SNe observationally similar to its prototypical member, SN 2002cx. The class currently has 25 members, and we present optical photometry and/or optical spectroscopy for most of them. SNe Iax are spectroscopically similar to SNe Ia, but have lower maximum-light velocities (2000 ≲ |v| ≲ 8000 km s-1), typically lower peak magnitudes (-14.2 ≥ M V, peak ≳ -18.9 mag), and most have hot photospheres. Relative to SNe Ia, SNe Iax have low luminosities for their light-curve shape. There is a correlation between luminosity and light-curve shape, similar to that of SNe Ia, but offset from that of SNe Ia and with larger scatter. Despite a host-galaxy morphology distribution that is highly skewed to late-type galaxies without any SNe Iax discovered in elliptical galaxies, there are several indications that the progenitor stars are white dwarfs (WDs): evidence of C/O burning in their maximum-light spectra, low (typically t0.5 M ·) ejecta masses, strong Fe lines in their late-time spectra, a lack of X-ray detections, and deep limits on massive stars and star formation at the SN sites. However, two SNe Iax show strong He lines in their spectra. The progenitor system and explosion model that best fits all of the data is a binary system of a C/O WD that accretes matter from a He star and has a deflagration. At least some of the time, this explosion will not disrupt the WD. The small number of SNe in this class prohibit a detailed analysis of the homogeneity and heterogeneity of the entire class. We estimate that in a given volume there are SNe Iax for every 100 SNe Ia, and for every 1 M · of iron generated by SNe Ia at z = 0, SNe Iax generate t0.036 M·. Being the largest class of peculiar SNe, thousands of SNe Iax will be discovered by LSST. Future detailed observations of SNe Iax should further our understanding of both their progenitor systems and explosions as well as those of SNe Ia.

AB - We describe observed properties of the Type Iax class of supernovae (SNe Iax), consisting of SNe observationally similar to its prototypical member, SN 2002cx. The class currently has 25 members, and we present optical photometry and/or optical spectroscopy for most of them. SNe Iax are spectroscopically similar to SNe Ia, but have lower maximum-light velocities (2000 ≲ |v| ≲ 8000 km s-1), typically lower peak magnitudes (-14.2 ≥ M V, peak ≳ -18.9 mag), and most have hot photospheres. Relative to SNe Ia, SNe Iax have low luminosities for their light-curve shape. There is a correlation between luminosity and light-curve shape, similar to that of SNe Ia, but offset from that of SNe Ia and with larger scatter. Despite a host-galaxy morphology distribution that is highly skewed to late-type galaxies without any SNe Iax discovered in elliptical galaxies, there are several indications that the progenitor stars are white dwarfs (WDs): evidence of C/O burning in their maximum-light spectra, low (typically t0.5 M ·) ejecta masses, strong Fe lines in their late-time spectra, a lack of X-ray detections, and deep limits on massive stars and star formation at the SN sites. However, two SNe Iax show strong He lines in their spectra. The progenitor system and explosion model that best fits all of the data is a binary system of a C/O WD that accretes matter from a He star and has a deflagration. At least some of the time, this explosion will not disrupt the WD. The small number of SNe in this class prohibit a detailed analysis of the homogeneity and heterogeneity of the entire class. We estimate that in a given volume there are SNe Iax for every 100 SNe Ia, and for every 1 M · of iron generated by SNe Ia at z = 0, SNe Iax generate t0.036 M·. Being the largest class of peculiar SNe, thousands of SNe Iax will be discovered by LSST. Future detailed observations of SNe Iax should further our understanding of both their progenitor systems and explosions as well as those of SNe Ia.

KW - supernovae: general

KW - supernovae: individual

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DO - 10.1088/0004-637X/767/1/57

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JO - Astrophysical Journal

JF - Astrophysical Journal

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ER -

Type Iax Supernovae: A new class of stellar explosion

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