From Shock Breakout To Peak And Beyond: Extensive Panchromatic Observations Of The Type Ib Supernova 2008D Associated With Swift X-Ray Transient 080109

Date

2009-09

Authors

Modjaz, M.
Li, W.
Butler, N.
Chornock, Ryan
Perley, D.
Blondin, S.
Bloom, Joshua S.
Filippenko, Alexei V.
Kirshner, Robert P.
Kocevski, D.

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Abstract

We present extensive early photometric (ultraviolet through near-infrared) and spectroscopic (optical and near-infrared) data on supernova (SN) 2008D as well as X-ray data analysis on the associated Swift X-ray transient (XRT) 080109. Our data span a time range of 5 hr before the detection of the X-ray transient to 150 days after its detection, and a detailed analysis allowed us to derive constraints on the nature of the SN and its progenitor; throughout we draw comparisons with results presented in the literature and find several key aspects that differ. We show that the X-ray spectrum of XRT 080109 can be fit equally well by an absorbed power law or a superposition of about equal parts of both power law and blackbody. Our data first established that SN 2008D is a spectroscopically normal SN Ib (i.e., showing conspicuous He lines) and showed that SN 2008D had a relatively long rise time of 18 days and a modest optical peak luminosity. The early-time light curves of the SN are dominated by a cooling stellar envelope (for Delta t approximate to 0.1-4 days, most pronounced in the blue bands) followed by (56)Ni decay. We construct a reliable measurement of the bolometric output for this stripped-envelope SN, and, combined with estimates of E(K) and M(ej) from the literature, estimate the stellar radius R(star) of its probable Wolf-Rayet progenitor. According to the model of Waxman et al. and Chevalier & Fransson, we derive R(star)(W07) = 1.2 +/- 0.7 R(circle dot) and R(star)(CF08) = 12 +/- 7 R(circle dot), respectively; the latter being more in line with typical WN stars. Spectra obtained at three and four months after maximum light show double-peaked oxygen lines that we associate with departures from spherical symmetry, as has been suggested for the inner ejecta of a number of SN Ib cores.

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Citation

Modjaz, Maryam, W. Li, N. Butler, R. Chornock, D. Perley, S. Blondin, J. S. Bloom et al. "From shock breakout to peak and beyond: extensive panchromatic observations of the type Ib supernova 2008D associated with swift X-ray transient 080109." The Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 702, No. 1 (Sep., 2009): 226.