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1. SN 2018is: A low-luminosity Type IIP supernova with narrow hydrogen emission lines at early phases

   https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202452507  

   Dastidar, R; Misra, K; Valenti, S; Sand, D J; Pastorello, A; Reguitti, A; Pignata, G; Benetti, S; Bose, S; Gangopadhyay, A; et al (February 2025, Astronomy & Astrophysics)

   We present a comprehensive photometric and spectroscopic study of the Type IIP supernova (SN) 2018is. TheVband luminosity and the expansion velocity at 50 days post-explosion are −15.1 ± 0.2 mag (corrected for A_V= 1.34 mag) and 1400 km s⁻¹, classifying it as a low-luminosity SN II. The recombination phase in theVband is shorter, lasting around 110 days, and exhibits a steeper decline (1.0 mag per 100 days) compared to most other low-luminosity SNe II. Additionally, the optical and near-infrared spectra display hydrogen emission lines that are strikingly narrow, even for this class. The Fe IIand Sc IIline velocities are at the lower end of the typical range for low-luminosity SNe II. Semi-analytical modelling of the bolometric light curve suggests an ejecta mass of ∼8 M_⊙, corresponding to a pre-supernova mass of ∼9.5 M_⊙, and an explosion energy of ∼0.40 × 10⁵¹erg. Hydrodynamical modelling further indicates that the progenitor had a zero-age main sequence mass of 9 M_⊙, coupled with a low explosion energy of 0.19 × 10⁵¹erg. The nebular spectrum reveals weak [O I]λλ6300,6364 lines, consistent with a moderate-mass progenitor, while features typical of Fe core-collapse events, such as He I, [C I], and Fe I, are indiscernible. However, the redder colours and low ratio of Ni to Fe abundance do not support an electron-capture scenario either. As a low-luminosity SN II with an atypically steep decline during the photospheric phase and remarkably narrow emission lines, SN 2018is contributes to the diversity observed within this population. 

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2. Ground-based and JWST Observations of SN 2022pul. I. Unusual Signatures of Carbon, Oxygen, and Circumstellar Interaction in a Peculiar Type Ia Supernova

   https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad0975  

   Siebert, Matthew R; Kwok, Lindsey A; Johansson, Joel; Jha, Saurabh W; Blondin, Stéphane; Dessart, Luc; Foley, Ryan J; Hillier, D John; Larison, Conor; Pakmor, Rüdiger; et al (December 2023, The Astrophysical Journal)

   Abstract Nebular-phase observations of peculiar Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) provide important constraints on progenitor scenarios and explosion dynamics for both these rare SNe and the more common, cosmologically useful SNe Ia. We present observations from an extensive ground- and space-based follow-up campaign to characterize SN 2022pul, a super-Chandrasekhar mass SN Ia (alternatively “03fg-like” SN), from before peak brightness to well into the nebular phase across optical to mid-infrared (MIR) wavelengths. The early rise of the light curve is atypical, exhibiting two distinct components, consistent with SN Ia ejecta interacting with dense carbon–oxygen (C/O)-rich circumstellar material (CSM). In the optical, SN 2022pul is most similar to SN 2012dn, having a low estimated peak luminosity (M_B= −18.9 mag) and high photospheric velocity relative to other 03fg-like SNe. In the nebular phase, SN 2022pul adds to the increasing diversity of the 03fg-like subclass. From 168 to 336 days after peakB-band brightness, SN 2022pul exhibits asymmetric and narrow emission from [Oi]λλ6300, 6364 (FWHM ≈ 2000 km s⁻¹), strong, broad emission from [Caii]λλ7291, 7323 (FWHM ≈ 7300 km s⁻¹), and a rapid Feiiito Feiiionization change. Finally, we present the first ever optical-to-MIR nebular spectrum of an 03fg-like SN Ia using data from JWST. In the MIR, strong lines of neon and argon, weak emission from stable nickel, and strong thermal dust emission (withT≈ 500 K), combined with prominent [Oi] in the optical, suggest that SN 2022pul was produced by a white dwarf merger within C/O-rich CSM. 

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3. SN 2021wuf: A transitional type Ia supernova with a low-velocity gradient

   https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202451048  

   Zeng, Xiangyun; Li, Sai; Wang, Xiaofeng; Zheng, Sheng; Andrew_Howell, D; Azaleee_Bostroem, K; McCully, Curtis; Esamdin, Ali; Liu, Jialian; Iskandar, Abdusamatjan; et al (November 2024, Astronomy & Astrophysics)

   In this paper, we present an extensive analysis of SN 2021 wuf, a transition between Ia-norm and SN 1991T-like supernovae, which exploded at the periphery of the tidal bridge between the pair galaxy NGC 6500 and NGC 6501, at a redshift ofz = 0.01. Our observations, ranging from −21 to +276 days relative to theB-band maximum light, reveal that SN 2021wuf exhibits properties akin to normal SNe Ia, with a peak absolute magnitude ofM_max(B)  ∼   − 19.49  ±  0.10 mag and a post-peak decline rate of Δm₁₅(B)  ∼  1.11  ±  0.06 mag. The peak bolometric luminosity of this SN is estimated as 1.58  × 10⁴³erg s⁻¹, corresponding to a⁵⁶Ni mass ofM_Ni  ∼  0.64  ±  0.05 M_⊙. The spectral features, including high-velocity Si IIλ6355 lines, a plateau in the Si IIλ6355 velocity evolution and the nickel-to-iron ratio in the nebular phase, suggest a potential pulsating delayed detonation mechanism. The absence of intermediate-mass elements in the early phase and the high photospheric temperature, as inferred from the line-strength ratio of Si IIλ5972 to Si IIλ6355 (named asR(Si II)), further support this classification. 

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4. JWST MIRI/Medium Resolution Spectrograph (MRS) Observations and Spectral Models of the Underluminous Type Ia Supernova 2022xkq

   https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ad0b7b  

   DerKacy, J_M; Ashall, C.; Hoeflich, P.; Baron, E.; Shahbandeh, M.; Shappee, B_J; Andrews, J.; Baade, D.; Balangan, E_F; Bostroem, K_A; et al (January 2024, The Astrophysical Journal)

   Abstract We present a JWST mid-infrared (MIR) spectrum of the underluminous Type Ia Supernova (SN Ia) 2022xkq, obtained with the medium-resolution spectrometer on the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) ∼130 days post-explosion. We identify the first MIR lines beyond 14μm in SN Ia observations. We find features unique to underluminous SNe Ia, including the following: isolated emission of stable Ni, strong blends of [Tiii], and large ratios of singly ionized to doubly ionized species in both [Ar] and [Co]. Comparisons to normal-luminosity SNe Ia spectra at similar phases show a tentative trend between the width of the [Coiii] 11.888μm feature and the SN light-curve shape. Using non-LTE-multi-dimensional radiation hydro simulations and the observed electron capture elements, we constrain the mass of the exploding WD. The best-fitting model shows that SN 2022xkq is consistent with an off-center delayed-detonation explosion of a near-Chandrasekhar mass WD ( $M_{\mathrm{WD}}$≈1.37M_⊙) of high central density (ρ_c≥ 2.0 × 10⁹g cm⁻³) seen equator-on, which producedM(⁵⁶Ni) =0.324M_⊙andM(⁵⁸Ni) ≥0.06M_⊙. The observed line widths are consistent with the overall abundance distribution; and the narrow stable Ni lines indicate little to no mixing in the central regions, favoring central ignition of subsonic carbon burning followed by an off-center deflagration-to-detonation transition beginning at a single point. Additional observations may further constrain the physics revealing the presence of additional species including Cr and Mn. Our work demonstrates the power of using the full coverage of MIRI in combination with detailed modeling to elucidate the physics of SNe Ia at a level not previously possible. 

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5. A quasar-galaxy merger at z ∼ 6.2: Black hole mass and quasar properties from the NIRSpec spectrum

   https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/202348535  

   Loiacono, Federica; Decarli, Roberto; Mignoli, Marco; Farina, Emanuele Paolo; Bañados, Eduardo; Bosman, Sarah; Eilers, Anna-Christina; Schindler, Jan-Torge; Strauss, Michael A; Vestergaard, Marianne; et al (May 2024, Astronomy & Astrophysics)

   We present JWST/NIRSpec integral field data of the quasar PJ308-21 atz = 6.2342. As shown by previous ALMA and HST imaging, the quasar has two companion sources, interacting with the quasar host galaxy. The high-resolution G395H/290LP NIRSpec spectrum covers the 2.87 − 5.27 μm wavelength range and shows the rest-frame optical emission of the quasar with exquisite quality (signal-to-noise ratio ∼100 − 400 per spectral element). Based on the Hβline from the broad line region, we obtain an estimate of the black hole massM_BH, Hβ ∼ 2.7 × 10⁹ M_⊙. This value is within a factor ≲1.5 of the Hα-based black hole mass from the same spectrum (M_BH, Hα ∼ 1.93 × 10⁹ M_⊙) and is consistent with a previous estimate relying on the Mg IIλ2799 line (M_BH, MgII ∼ 2.65 × 10⁹ M_⊙). All theseM_BHestimates are within the ∼0.5 dex intrinsic scatter of the adopted mass calibrations. The high Eddington ratio of PJ308-21λ_Edd, Hβ ∼ 0.67 (λ_Edd, Hα ∼ 0.96) is in line with the overall quasar population atz ≳ 6. The relative strengths of the [O III], Fe II, and Hβlines are consistent with the empirical “Eigenvector 1” correlations as observed for low redshift quasars. We find evidence for blueshifted [O III]λ5007 emission with a velocity offset Δv_{[O III]} = −1922 ± 39 km s⁻¹from the systemic velocity and a full width at half maximum (FWHM)FWHM([O III]) = 2776₋₇₄⁺⁷⁵km s⁻¹. This may be the signature of outflowing gas from the nuclear region, despite the true values of Δv_{[O III]}andFWHM([O III]) likely being more uncertain due to the blending with Hβand Fe IIlines. Our study demonstrates the unique capabilities of NIRSpec in capturing quasar spectra at cosmic dawn and studying their properties in unprecedented detail. 

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