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  • SN2019wxt: An Ultrastripped Supernova Candidate Discovered in the Electromagnetic Follow-up of a Gravitational Wave Trigger
Title: SN2019wxt: An Ultrastripped Supernova Candidate Discovered in the Electromagnetic Follow-up of a Gravitational Wave Trigger
Abstract We present optical, radio, and X-ray observations of a rapidly evolving transient SN2019wxt (PS19hgw), discovered during the search for an electromagnetic counterpart to the gravitational-wave (GW) trigger S191213g. Although S191213g was not confirmed as a significant GW event in the off-line analysis of LIGO-Virgo data, SN2019wxt remained an interesting transient due to its peculiar nature. The optical/near-infrared (NIR) light curve of SN2019wxt displayed a double-peaked structure evolving rapidly in a manner analogous to currently known ultrastripped supernovae (USSNe) candidates. This double-peaked structure suggests the presence of an extended envelope around the progenitor, best modeled with two components: (i) early-time shock-cooling emission and (ii) late-time radioactive56Ni decay. We constrain the ejecta mass of SN2019wxt atMej≈ 0.20M⊙, which indicates a significantly stripped progenitor that was possibly in a binary system. We also followed up SN2019wxt with long-term Chandra and Jansky Very Large Array observations spanning ∼260 days. We detected no definitive counterparts at the location of SN2019wxt in these long-term X-ray and radio observational campaigns. We establish the X-ray upper limit at 9.93 × 10−17erg cm−2s−1and detect an excess radio emission from the region of SN2019wxt. However, there is little evidence for SN1993J- or GW170817-like variability of the radio flux over the course of our observations. A substantial host-galaxy contribution to the measured radio flux is likely. The discovery and early-time peak capture of SN2019wxt in optical/NIR observations during EMGW follow-up observations highlight the need for dedicated early, multiband photometric observations to identify USSNe.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1907975
PAR ID:
10478041
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
AAS Publishing
Date Published:
Journal Name:
The Astrophysical Journal
Volume:
952
Issue:
1
ISSN:
0004-637X
Page Range / eLocation ID:
86
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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