A TYPE IIn SUPERNOVA WITH CORONAL LINES IN THE LOW-METALLICITY COMPACT DWARF GALAXY J1320+2155

Journal Article · Sun Dec 20 04:00:00 EST 2009 · Astrophysical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/707/2/1560· OSTI ID:21392518

Izotov, Yuri I ^[1]

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1. Main Astronomical Observatory, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 03680, Kyiv (Ukraine)

We report the discovery of a Type IIn supernova (SN) in the low-metallicity dwarf galaxy J1320+2155, with an oxygen abundance 12 + log O/H = 8.0 +- 0.2. This finding is based on Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS; 2008 February) and 3.5 m Apache Point Observatory (2009 February) spectra taken one year apart, and on the observations that: the Hbeta and Halpha emission lines show broad components corresponding to gas expansion velocities of approx1600 km s{sup -1}; the Balmer decrement is exceedingly high: the Halpha/Hbeta flux ratio, being more than 30, implies a very dense environment (>10{sup 7} cm{sup -3}); and the Halpha broad luminosity decreases slowly, by only a factor of approx1.8 over the course of a year, typical of the slow luminosity evolution of a Type IIn SN. Several weak coronal lines of [Fe VII] and [Fe X] are also seen in the SDSS spectrum, implying ionization of the pre-shock circumstellar medium by shock-induced X-ray emission. The galaxy J1320+2155 is the first dwarf system ever to be discovered with a Type IIn SN exhibiting coronal lines in its spectrum.

• OSTI ID: 21392518
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 707; ISSN ASJOAB; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
ABUNDANCE
ACCELERATORS
BINARY STARS
CYCLIC ACCELERATORS
CYCLOTRONS
ELEMENTS
EMISSION
ERUPTIVE VARIABLE STARS
EVOLUTION
EXPANSION
GALACTIC EVOLUTION
GALAXIES
IONIZATION
ISOCHRONOUS CYCLOTRONS
LUMINOSITY
NONMETALS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
OXYGEN
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SPECTRA
STARS
SUPERNOVAE
VARIABLE STARS