SN 1978K: An evolved supernova outside our Local Group detected at millimetre wavelengths

Supernova 1978K is one of the oldest-known examples of the class of Type IIn supernovae that show evidence for strong interaction between the blast wave and a dense, pre-existing circumstellar medium. Here we report detections of SN 1978K at both 34 GHz and 94 GHz, making it only the third extragala...

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Main Authors: Ryder, S., Kotak, R., Smith, I., Tingay, Steven, Kool, E., Polshaw, J.
Format: Journal Article
Published: EDP Sciences 2016
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/43397
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author Ryder, S.
Kotak, R.
Smith, I.
Tingay, Steven
Kool, E.
Polshaw, J.
author_facet Ryder, S.
Kotak, R.
Smith, I.
Tingay, Steven
Kool, E.
Polshaw, J.
author_sort Ryder, S.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Supernova 1978K is one of the oldest-known examples of the class of Type IIn supernovae that show evidence for strong interaction between the blast wave and a dense, pre-existing circumstellar medium. Here we report detections of SN 1978K at both 34 GHz and 94 GHz, making it only the third extragalactic supernova (after SN 1987A and SN 1996cr) to be detected at late-times at these frequencies. We find SN 1978K to be >400 times more luminous than SN 1987A at millimetre wavelengths in spite of the roughly nine year difference in ages, highlighting the risk in adopting SN 1987A as a template for the evolution of core-collapse supernovae in general. Additionally, from new VLBI observations at 8.4 GHz, we measure a deconvolved diameter for SN 1978K of ~5 milli-arcsec, and a corresponding average expansion velocity of <1500 km s-1. These observations provide independent evidence of an extremely dense circumstellar medium surrounding the progenitor star.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-433972017-09-13T15:37:03Z SN 1978K: An evolved supernova outside our Local Group detected at millimetre wavelengths Ryder, S. Kotak, R. Smith, I. Tingay, Steven Kool, E. Polshaw, J. Supernova 1978K is one of the oldest-known examples of the class of Type IIn supernovae that show evidence for strong interaction between the blast wave and a dense, pre-existing circumstellar medium. Here we report detections of SN 1978K at both 34 GHz and 94 GHz, making it only the third extragalactic supernova (after SN 1987A and SN 1996cr) to be detected at late-times at these frequencies. We find SN 1978K to be >400 times more luminous than SN 1987A at millimetre wavelengths in spite of the roughly nine year difference in ages, highlighting the risk in adopting SN 1987A as a template for the evolution of core-collapse supernovae in general. Additionally, from new VLBI observations at 8.4 GHz, we measure a deconvolved diameter for SN 1978K of ~5 milli-arcsec, and a corresponding average expansion velocity of <1500 km s-1. These observations provide independent evidence of an extremely dense circumstellar medium surrounding the progenitor star. 2016 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/43397 10.1051/0004-6361/201629763 EDP Sciences fulltext
spellingShingle Ryder, S.
Kotak, R.
Smith, I.
Tingay, Steven
Kool, E.
Polshaw, J.
SN 1978K: An evolved supernova outside our Local Group detected at millimetre wavelengths
title SN 1978K: An evolved supernova outside our Local Group detected at millimetre wavelengths
title_full SN 1978K: An evolved supernova outside our Local Group detected at millimetre wavelengths
title_fullStr SN 1978K: An evolved supernova outside our Local Group detected at millimetre wavelengths
title_full_unstemmed SN 1978K: An evolved supernova outside our Local Group detected at millimetre wavelengths
title_short SN 1978K: An evolved supernova outside our Local Group detected at millimetre wavelengths
title_sort sn 1978k: an evolved supernova outside our local group detected at millimetre wavelengths
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/43397