The Early Light Curve of SN 2023bee: Constraining Type Ia Supernova Progenitors the Apian Way

Griffin Hosseinzadeh, David J. Sand, Sumit K. Sarbadhicary, Stuart D. Ryder, Saurabh W. Jha, Yize Dong, K. Azalee Bostroem, Jennifer E. Andrews, Emily Hoang, Daryl Janzen, Jacob E. Jencson, Michael Lundquist, Nicolas E. Meza Retamal, Jeniveve Pearson, Manisha Shrestha, Stefano Valenti, Samuel Wyatt, Joseph Farah, D. Andrew Howell, Curtis McCullyMegan Newsome, Estefania Padilla Gonzalez, Craig Pellegrino, Giacomo Terreran, Muzoun Alzaabi, Elizabeth M. Green, Jessica L. Gurney, Peter A. Milne, Kaycee I. Ridenhour, Nathan Smith, Paulina Soto Robles, Lindsey A. Kwok, Michaela Schwab, Mariusz Gromadzki, David A.H. Buckley, Koichi Itagaki, Daichi Hiramatsu, Laura Chomiuk, Peter Lundqvist, Joshua Haislip, Vladimir Kouprianov, Daniel E. Reichart

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present very early photometric and spectroscopic observations of the Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) 2023bee, starting about 8 hr after the explosion, which reveal a strong excess in the optical and nearest UV (U and UVW1) bands during the first several days of explosion. This data set allows us to probe the nature of the binary companion of the exploding white dwarf and the conditions leading to its ignition. We find a good match to the Kasen model in which a main-sequence companion star stings the ejecta with a shock as they buzz past. Models of double detonations, shells of radioactive nickel near the surface, interaction with circumstellar material, and pulsational delayed detonations do not provide good matches to our light curves. We also observe signatures of unburned material, in the form of carbon absorption, in our earliest spectra. Our radio nondetections place a limit on the mass-loss rate from the putative companion that rules out a red giant but allows a main-sequence star. We discuss our results in the context of other similar SNe Ia in the literature.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numberL15
JournalAstrophysical Journal Letters
Volume953
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1 2023

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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