SN 2012cg: EVIDENCE for INTERACTION between A NORMAL SN Ia and A NON-DEGENERATE BINARY COMPANION

  • G. H. Marion
  • , Peter J. Brown
  • , Jozsef Vinkó
  • , Jeffrey M. Silverman
  • , David J. Sand
  • , Peter Challis
  • , Robert P. Kirshner
  • , J. Craig Wheeler
  • , Perry Berlind
  • , Warren R. Brown
  • , Michael L. Calkins
  • , Yssavo Camacho
  • , Govinda Dhungana
  • , Ryan J. Foley
  • , Andrew S. Friedman
  • , Melissa L. Graham
  • , D. Andrew Howell
  • , Eric Y. Hsiao
  • , Jonathan M. Irwin
  • , Saurabh W. Jha
  • Robert Kehoe, Lucas M. Macri, Keiichi Maeda, Kaisey Mandel, Curtis McCully, Viraj Pandya, Kenneth J. Rines, Steven Wilhelmy, Weikang Zheng

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

140 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report evidence for excess blue light from the Type Ia supernova (Sn Ia) SN 2012cg at 15 and 16 days before maximum B-band brightness. The emission is consistent with predictions for the impact of the supernova on a non-degenerate binary companion. This is the first evidence for emission from a companion to a normal SN Ia. Sixteen days before maximum light, the color of SN 2012cg is 0.2 mag bluer than for other normal SN Ia. At later times, this supernova has a typical SN Ia light curve, with extinction-corrected mag and . Our data set is extensive, with photometry in seven filters from five independent sources. Early spectra also show the effects of blue light, and high-velocity features are observed at early times. Near maximum, the spectra are normal with a silicon velocity vSi = -10,500 km s-1. Comparing the early data with models by Kasen favors a main-sequence companion of about six solar masses. It is possible that many other SN Ia have main-sequence companions that have eluded detection because the emission from the impact is fleeting and faint.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number92
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume820
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1 2016
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • supernovae: general
  • supernovae: individual (2012cg)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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