1. Astronomy. ASASSN-15lh: A highly super-luminous supernova.
- Author
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Dong S, Shappee BJ, Prieto JL, Jha SW, Stanek KZ, Holoien TW, Kochanek CS, Thompson TA, Morrell N, Thompson IB, Basu U, Beacom JF, Bersier D, Brimacombe J, Brown JS, Bufano F, Chen P, Conseil E, Danilet AB, Falco E, Grupe D, Kiyota S, Masi G, Nicholls B, Olivares E F, Pignata G, Pojmanski G, Simonian GV, Szczygiel DM, and Woźniak PR
- Abstract
We report the discovery of ASASSN-15lh (SN 2015L), which we interpret as the most luminous supernova yet found. At redshift z = 0.2326, ASASSN-15lh reached an absolute magnitude of Mu ,AB = -23.5 ± 0.1 and bolometric luminosity Lbol = (2.2 ± 0.2) × 10(45) ergs s(-1), which is more than twice as luminous as any previously known supernova. It has several major features characteristic of the hydrogen-poor super-luminous supernovae (SLSNe-I), whose energy sources and progenitors are currently poorly understood. In contrast to most previously known SLSNe-I that reside in star-forming dwarf galaxies, ASASSN-15lh appears to be hosted by a luminous galaxy (MK ≈ -25.5) with little star formation. In the 4 months since first detection, ASASSN-15lh radiated (1.1 ± 0.2) × 10(52) ergs, challenging the magnetar model for its engine., (Copyright © 2016, American Association for the Advancement of Science.)
- Published
- 2016
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