The Unusually Luminous Extragalactic Nova SN 2010U

Ian Czekala; E. Berger; R. Chornock; A. Pastorello; G. H. Marion; R. Margutti; M. T. Botticella; P. Challis; M. Ergon; S. Smartt; J. Sollerman; J. Vinkó; J. C. Wheeler

The Unusually Luminous Extragalactic Nova SN 2010U

Ian Czekala, E. Berger, R. Chornock, A. Pastorello, G. H. Marion, R. Margutti, M. T. Botticella, P. Challis, M. Ergon, S. Smartt, J. Sollerman, J. Vinkó, J. C. Wheeler

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Abstract

We present observations of the unusual optical transient SN 2010U, including spectra taken 1.03 days to 15.3 days after maximum light that identify it as a fast and luminous Fe II type nova. Our multi-band light curve traces the fast decline (t 2 = 3.5 ± 0.3 days) from maximum light (MV = -10.2 ± 0.1 mag), placing SN 2010U in the top 0.5% of the most luminous novae ever observed. We find typical ejecta velocities of ≈1100 km s-1 and that SN 2010U shares many spectral and photometric characteristics with two other fast and luminous Fe II type novae, including Nova LMC 1991 and M31N-2007-11d. For the extreme luminosity of this nova, the maximum magnitude versus rate of decline relationship indicates a massive white dwarf (WD) progenitor with a low pre-outburst accretion rate. However, this prediction is in conflict with emerging theories of nova populations, which predict that luminous novae from massive WDs should preferentially exhibit an alternate spectral type (He/N) near maximum light.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	57
Journal	The Astrophysical Journal
Volume	765
Publication status	Published - 01 Mar 2013

Keywords

novae
cataclysmic variables
supernovae: individual: SN 2010U
X-rays: stars

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title = "The Unusually Luminous Extragalactic Nova SN 2010U",

abstract = "We present observations of the unusual optical transient SN 2010U, including spectra taken 1.03 days to 15.3 days after maximum light that identify it as a fast and luminous Fe II type nova. Our multi-band light curve traces the fast decline (t 2 = 3.5 ± 0.3 days) from maximum light (MV = -10.2 ± 0.1 mag), placing SN 2010U in the top 0.5% of the most luminous novae ever observed. We find typical ejecta velocities of ≈1100 km s-1 and that SN 2010U shares many spectral and photometric characteristics with two other fast and luminous Fe II type novae, including Nova LMC 1991 and M31N-2007-11d. For the extreme luminosity of this nova, the maximum magnitude versus rate of decline relationship indicates a massive white dwarf (WD) progenitor with a low pre-outburst accretion rate. However, this prediction is in conflict with emerging theories of nova populations, which predict that luminous novae from massive WDs should preferentially exhibit an alternate spectral type (He/N) near maximum light.",

keywords = "novae, cataclysmic variables, supernovae: individual: SN 2010U, X-rays: stars",

author = "Ian Czekala and E. Berger and R. Chornock and A. Pastorello and Marion, {G. H.} and R. Margutti and Botticella, {M. T.} and P. Challis and M. Ergon and S. Smartt and J. Sollerman and J. Vink{\'o} and Wheeler, {J. C.}",

year = "2013",

month = mar,

day = "1",

language = "English",

volume = "765",

pages = "57",

journal = "The Astrophysical Journal",

issn = "0004-637X",

publisher = "IOP Publishing Ltd",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - The Unusually Luminous Extragalactic Nova SN 2010U

AU - Czekala, Ian

AU - Berger, E.

AU - Chornock, R.

AU - Pastorello, A.

AU - Marion, G. H.

AU - Margutti, R.

AU - Botticella, M. T.

AU - Challis, P.

AU - Ergon, M.

AU - Smartt, S.

AU - Sollerman, J.

AU - Vinkó, J.

AU - Wheeler, J. C.

PY - 2013/3/1

Y1 - 2013/3/1

N2 - We present observations of the unusual optical transient SN 2010U, including spectra taken 1.03 days to 15.3 days after maximum light that identify it as a fast and luminous Fe II type nova. Our multi-band light curve traces the fast decline (t 2 = 3.5 ± 0.3 days) from maximum light (MV = -10.2 ± 0.1 mag), placing SN 2010U in the top 0.5% of the most luminous novae ever observed. We find typical ejecta velocities of ≈1100 km s-1 and that SN 2010U shares many spectral and photometric characteristics with two other fast and luminous Fe II type novae, including Nova LMC 1991 and M31N-2007-11d. For the extreme luminosity of this nova, the maximum magnitude versus rate of decline relationship indicates a massive white dwarf (WD) progenitor with a low pre-outburst accretion rate. However, this prediction is in conflict with emerging theories of nova populations, which predict that luminous novae from massive WDs should preferentially exhibit an alternate spectral type (He/N) near maximum light.

AB - We present observations of the unusual optical transient SN 2010U, including spectra taken 1.03 days to 15.3 days after maximum light that identify it as a fast and luminous Fe II type nova. Our multi-band light curve traces the fast decline (t 2 = 3.5 ± 0.3 days) from maximum light (MV = -10.2 ± 0.1 mag), placing SN 2010U in the top 0.5% of the most luminous novae ever observed. We find typical ejecta velocities of ≈1100 km s-1 and that SN 2010U shares many spectral and photometric characteristics with two other fast and luminous Fe II type novae, including Nova LMC 1991 and M31N-2007-11d. For the extreme luminosity of this nova, the maximum magnitude versus rate of decline relationship indicates a massive white dwarf (WD) progenitor with a low pre-outburst accretion rate. However, this prediction is in conflict with emerging theories of nova populations, which predict that luminous novae from massive WDs should preferentially exhibit an alternate spectral type (He/N) near maximum light.

KW - novae

KW - cataclysmic variables

KW - supernovae: individual: SN 2010U

KW - X-rays: stars

M3 - Article

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 765

SP - 57

JO - The Astrophysical Journal

JF - The Astrophysical Journal

ER -

The Unusually Luminous Extragalactic Nova SN 2010U

Abstract

Keywords

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