1. ASASSN-15lh: A highly super-luminous supernova
- Author
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Dong, S, Shappee, BJ, Prieto, JL, Jha, SW, Stanek, KZ, Holoien, TW-S, Kochanek, CS, Thompson, TA, Morrell, N, Thompson, IB, Basu, U, Beacom, JF, Bersier, D, Brimacombe, J, Brown, JS, Chen, P, Conseil, E, Danilet, AB, Falco, E, Grupe, D, Kiyota, S, Masi, G, Nicholls, B, Olivares, F, Pignata, G, Pojmanski, G, Simonian, GV, Szczygiel, DM, and Wozniak, PR
- Subjects
QB - Abstract
We report the discovery and early evolution of ASASSN-15lh, the most luminous supernova ever found. At redshift z=0.2326, ASASSN-15lh reached an absolute magnitude of M_{u,AB} ~ -23.5 and bolometric luminosity L_bol ~ 2.2x10^45 ergs/s, which is >~ 2 times more luminous than any previously known supernova. Its spectra match the hydrogen-poor sub-class of super-luminous supernovae (SLSNe-I), whose energy sources and progenitors are poorly understood. In contrast to known SLSNe-I, most of which reside in star-forming, dwarf galaxies, its host appears to be a luminous galaxy (M_V ~ -22; M_K ~ -25.1) with little star formation. In the two months since its first detection, ASASSN-15lh has radiated ~7.5x10^51 ergs, challenging the popular magnetar model for the engine of SLSNe-I.