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1. Luminous Radio Emission from the Superluminous Supernova 2017ens at 3.3 yr after Explosion

   https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/acf1fd  

   Margutti, Raffaella; Bright, J S; Matthews, D J; Coppejans, D L; Alexander, K D; Berger, E; Bietenholz, M; Chornock, R; DeMarchi, L; Drout, M R; et al (September 2023, The Astrophysical Journal Letters)

   Abstract We present the results from a multiyear radio campaign of the superluminous supernova (SLSN) SN 2017ens, which yielded the earliest radio detection of an SLSN to date at the age of ∼3.3 yr after explosion. SN 2017ens was not detected at radio frequencies in the first ∼300 days but reachedL_ν≈ 10²⁸erg s⁻¹cm⁻²Hz⁻¹atν∼ 6 GHz, ∼1250 days post explosion. Interpreting the radio observations in the context of synchrotron radiation from the supernova shock interaction with the circumstellar medium (CSM), we infer an effective mass-loss rate $\dot{M}\approx {10}^{-4}{M}_{☉}{\mathrm{yr}}^{-1}$ atr∼ 10¹⁷cm from the explosion’s site, for a wind speed ofv_w= 50–60 km s⁻¹as measured from optical spectra. These findings are consistent with the spectroscopic metamorphosis of SN 2017ens from hydrogen poor to hydrogen rich ∼190 days after explosion reported by Chen et al. SN 2017ens is thus an addition to the sample of hydrogen-poor massive progenitors that explode shortly after having lost their hydrogen envelope. The inferred circumstellar densities, implying a CSM mass up to ∼0.5M_☉, and low velocity of the ejection suggest that binary interactions (in the form of common-envelope evolution and subsequent envelope ejection) play a role in shaping the evolution of the stellar progenitors of SLSNe in the ≲500 yr preceding core collapse. 

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2. VLBI Observations of SN 2012AU Reveal a Compact Radio Source a Decade Post Explosion

   https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ae517f  

   Lazda, Mattias; Nimmo, Kenzie; Drout, Maria R; Marcote, Benito; Hessels, Jason_W T; Wiston, Eli; Margutti, Raffaella; Ould-Boukattine, Omar; Laskar, Tanmoy; Vink, Jacco; et al (April 2026, The Astrophysical Journal)

   Abstract Three leading models have been put forth to justify the observed radio re-brightening associated with stripped-envelope supernovae (SESNe) years post-explosion: radiation from an emerging pulsar wind nebula (PWN), shock interaction with a dense circumstellar medium (CSM), or emission from off-axis, relativistic jets. SN 2012au is a particularly intriguing SESN in this regard, as observations obtained ≳6 yr post-explosion have shownboth(i) optical emission features consistent with a young PWN and (ii) a radio re-brightening. We present the results of our very long baseline interferometric (VLBI) observations of SN 2012au performed between 8 and 13 yr post core-collapse. Our VLBI observations reveal a luminous, steadily fading radio source that remains compact (≤1.4 × 10¹⁷cm) and stationary (≤0.36c) over the course of our campaign. Overall, we find that our VLBI measurements can be readily explained by a ∼decade-old PWN, potentially explained by shock interaction with specific CSM geometries, and are unlikely to be explained by emission from an off-axis, relativistic jet. Assuming a PWN origin, our observations require that the initial spindown luminosity of the central pulsar be between $10^{36}\mathrm{erg}{\mathrm{s}}^{-1}\le {\dot{E}}_0\le 4\times {10}^{42}\mathrm{erg}{\mathrm{s}}^{-1}$ and radio efficiency factor beη_R≥ 3 × 10⁻⁷(both quoted at the 99.7% confidence interval). These results are consistent with independent inferences obtained using optical spectroscopy of SN 2012au, alongside inferences of known Galactic systems. If a PWN origin is confirmed, SN 2012au would represent the first extragalactic PWN emerging from a modern-day SN, providing a novel opportunity to study the formation properties of a decade-old pulsar. 

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3. A Late-time Radio Search for Highly Off-axis Jets from PTF Broad-lined Ic Supernovae in GRB-like Host Galaxy Environments

   https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ae129b  

   Schroeder, Genevieve; Ho, Anna_Y Q; Dastidar, Ranadeep G; Modjaz, Maryam; Corsi, Alessandra; Duffell, Paul C (December 2025, The Astrophysical Journal)

   Abstract Hydrogen/helium-poor stripped-envelope core-collapse supernovae with broad lines (SNe Ic-bl) almost always accompany the nearby (z < 0.3) jetted relativistic explosions known as long duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). However, the majority of SNe Ic-bl have no detected GRB counterpart. At least some of these SNe should harbor off-axis jets, whose afterglow may become detectable at late times, particularly at radio wavelengths. Here, we present Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) radio observations (rest-frame times of ∼3–4 × 10³days post SN discovery) of a sample of 14 SNe Ic-bl discovered by the Palomar Transient Factory (PTF) that have been demonstrated to originate from the same host environments as the SNe Ic-bl associated with nearby GRBs. Of the 14 SNe, we identify three that are radio detected, one of which (PTF10tqv,z= 0.0795) is consistent with an off-axis jet with energy similar to classical GRBs (∼10⁵¹–10^51.7erg). Using recently developed synchrotron radiation code, we find that for our 11 nondetections, which are among the deepest limits obtained for Ic-bl, we rule out an off-axis jet with an energy of ≳10⁵¹erg in circumburst densities of ≳10⁻¹cm⁻³. We predict that well-spaced monitoring of newly discovered SNe Ic-bl from ∼10 days to ∼10 yr (rest frame) to luminosities of ∼10²⁷erg s⁻¹Hz⁻¹will constrain the existence of highly off-axis jets (≳60°) with classical GRB energies. The VLA Sky Survey will probe jets that are ≲60° off-axis, whereas the Deep Synpotic Array 2000 will probe jets out to ∼90° off-axis, demonstrating the importance of utilizing radio surveys to supplement targeted observations. 

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4. The Circumstellar Environments of Double-peaked, Calcium-strong Transients 2021gno and 2021inl

   https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ac67dc  

   Jacobson-Galán, W. V.; Venkatraman, P.; Margutti, R.; Khatami, D.; Terreran, G.; Foley, R. J.; Angulo, R.; Angus, C. R.; Auchettl, K.; Blanchard, P. K.; et al (June 2022, The Astrophysical Journal)

   Abstract We present panchromatic observations and modeling of calcium-strong supernovae (SNe) 2021gno in the star-forming host-galaxy NGC 4165 and 2021inl in the outskirts of elliptical galaxy NGC 4923, both monitored through the Young Supernova Experiment transient survey. The light curves of both, SNe show two peaks, the former peak being derived from shock cooling emission (SCE) and/or shock interaction with circumstellar material (CSM). The primary peak in SN 2021gno is coincident with luminous, rapidly decaying X-ray emission ( L x = 5 × 10 41 erg s −1 ) detected by Swift-XRT at δ t = 1 day after explosion, this observation being the second-ever detection of X-rays from a calcium-strong transient. We interpret the X-ray emission in the context of shock interaction with CSM that extends to r < 3 × 10 14 cm. Based on X-ray modeling, we calculate a CSM mass M CSM = (0.3−1.6) × 10 −3 M ⊙ and density n = (1−4) × 10 10 cm −3 . Radio nondetections indicate a low-density environment at larger radii ( r > 10 16 cm) and mass-loss rate of M ̇ < 10 − 4 M ⊙ yr −1 . SCE modeling of both primary light-curve peaks indicates an extended-progenitor envelope mass M e = 0.02−0.05 M ⊙ and radius R e = 30−230 R ⊙ . The explosion properties suggest progenitor systems containing either a low-mass massive star or a white dwarf (WD), the former being unlikely given the lack of local star formation. Furthermore, the environments of both SNe are consistent with low-mass hybrid He/C/O WD + C/O WD mergers. 

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5. Millimeter Observations of the Type II SN 2023ixf: Constraints on the Proximate Circumstellar Medium

   https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ace0c4  

   Berger, Edo; Keating, Garrett K.; Margutti, Raffaella; Maeda, Keiichi; Alexander, Kate D.; Cendes, Yvette; Eftekhari, Tarraneh; Gurwell, Mark; Hiramatsu, Daichi; Ho, Anna Y.; et al (July 2023, The Astrophysical Journal Letters)

   Abstract We present 1.3 mm (230 GHz) observations of the recent and nearby Type II supernova, SN 2023ixf, obtained with the Submillimeter Array (SMA) at 2.6–18.6 days after explosion. The observations were obtained as part the SMA Large Program, POETS (Pursuit of Extragalactic Transients with the SMA). We do not detect any emission at the location of SN 2023ixf, with the deepest limits of L ν (230 GHz) ≲ 8.6 × 10 25 erg s −1 Hz −1 at 2.7 and 7.7 days, and L ν (230 GHz) ≲ 3.4 × 10 25 erg s −1 Hz −1 at 18.6 days. These limits are about a factor of 2 times dimmer than the millimeter emission from SN 2011dh (IIb), about 1 order of magnitude dimmer compared to SN 1993J (IIb) and SN 2018ivc (IIL), and about 30 times dimmer than the most luminous nonrelativistic SNe in the millimeter band (Type IIb/Ib/Ic). Using these limits in the context of analytical models that include synchrotron self-absorption and free–free absorption, we place constraints on the proximate circumstellar medium around the progenitor star, to a scale of ∼2 × 10 15 cm, excluding the range M ̇ ∼ few × 10 − 6 − 10 − 2 M ⊙ yr −1 (for a wind velocity, v w = 115 km s −1 , and ejecta velocity, v ej ∼ (1 − 2) × 10 4 km s −1 ). These results are consistent with an inference of the mass-loss rate based on optical spectroscopy (∼2 × 10 −2 M ⊙ yr −1 for v w = 115 km s −1 ), but are in tension with the inference from hard X-rays (∼7 × 10 −4 M ⊙ yr −1 for v w = 115 km s −1 ). This tension may be alleviated by a nonhomogeneous and confined CSM, consistent with results from high-resolution optical spectroscopy. 

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