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We present the photometric and spectroscopic analysis of three Type II supernovae (SNe): 2014cx, 2014cy, and 2015cz. SN 2014cx is a conventional Type IIP with shallow slope (0.2 mag/50 d) and an atypical short plateau (∼86 d). SNe 2014cy and 2015cz show relatively large decline rates (0.88 and 1.64 mag/50 d, respectively) at early times before settling to the plateau phase, unlike the canonical Type IIP/L SN light curves. All of them are normal luminosity SN II with an absolute magnitude at mid-plateau of M$_{V,14\mathrm{ cx}}^{50}$=$-16.6\, \pm \, 0.4\, \rm {mag}$, M$_{V,14\mathrm{ cy}}^{50}$=$-16.5\, \pm \, 0.2\, \rm {mag}$, and M$_{V,15\mathrm{ cz}}^{50}$=$-17.4\, \pm \, 0.3\, \rm {mag}$. A relatively broad range of 56Ni masses is ejected in these explosions (0.027-0.070 M⊙). The spectra shows the classical evolution of SNe II, dominated by a blue continuum with broad H lines at early phases and narrower metal lines with P Cygni profiles during the plateau. High-velocity H i features are identified in the plateau spectra of SN 2014cx at 11 600 kms -1, possibly a sign of ejecta-circumstellar interaction. The spectra of SN 2014cy exhibit strong absorption profile of H i similar to normal luminosity events whereas strong metal lines akin to sub-luminous SNe. The analytical modelling of the bolometric light curve of the three events yields similar progenitor radii within errors (478, 507, and 660 R ⊙ for SNe 2014cx, 2014cy, and 2015cz, respectively), a range of ejecta masses (15.0, 22.2, and 20.6 M ⊙ for SNe 2014cx, 2014cy, and 2015cz), and a modest range of explosion energies (3.3-7.2 foe where 1 foe=10 51erg).

We present the detailed optical evolution of a Type Ib SN 2015dj in NGC 7371, using data spanning up to ∼170 days after discovery. SN 2015dj shares similarity in light-curve shape with SN 2007gr and peaks at M V = -17.37 0.02 mag. Analytical modeling of the quasi bolometric light curve yields 0.06 0.01 M o˙ of 56Ni, ejecta mass M o˙, and kinetic energy erg. The spectral features show a fast evolution and resemble those of spherically symmetric ejecta. The analysis of nebular phase spectral lines indicates a progenitor mass between 13-20 M o˙, suggesting a binary scenario.

We present an extensive (∼1200 d) photometric and spectroscopic monitoring of the Type IIn supernova (SN) 2012ab. After a rapid initial rise leading to a bright maximum (MR = −19.39 mag), the light curves show a plateau lasting about 2 months followed by a steep decline up to about 100 d. Only in the U band, the decline is constant in the same interval. At later phases, the light curves remain flatter than the 56Co decline, suggesting the increasing contribution of the interaction between SN ejecta with circumstellar material (CSM). Although heavily contaminated by emission lines of the host galaxy, the early spectral sequence (until 32 d) shows persistent narrow emissions, indicative of slow unshocked CSM, and the emergence of broad Balmer lines of hydrogen with P-Cygni profiles over a blue continuum, arising from a fast expanding SN ejecta. From about 2 months to ∼1200 d, the P-Cygni profiles are overcome by intermediate width emissions [full width at half-maximum (FWHM) ∼6000 km s−1], produced in the shocked region due to interaction. On the red wing, a red bump appears after 76 d, likely a signature of the onset of interaction of the receding ejecta with the CSM. The presence of fast material both approaching and then receding is suggestive that we are observing the SN along the axis of a jet-like ejection in a cavity devoid of or uninterrupted by CSM in the innermost regions.

We present the photometric and spectroscopic studies of a Type Ib SN 2015ap and a Type Ic SN 2016P. SN 2015ap is one of the bright (MV =-18.04 mag) Type Ib while SN 2016P lies at an average value among the Type Ic SNe (MV =-17.53 mag). Bolometric light-curve modelling of SNe 2015ap and 2016P indicates that both the SNe are powered by 56Ni + magnetar model with 56Ni masses of 0.01 and 0.002 M⊙, ejecta masses of 3.75 and 4.66 M⊙, spin period P0 of 25.8 and 36.5 ms, and magnetic field Bp of 28.39 × 1014 and 35.3 × 1014 G, respectively. The early spectra of SN 2015ap show prominent lines of He with a 'W' feature due to Fe complexes while other lines of Mg ii, Na i, and Si ii are present in both SNe 2015ap and 2016P. Nebular phase [O i] profile indicates an asymmetric profile in SN 2015ap. The [O i]/[Ca ii] ratio and nebular spectral modelling of SN 2015ap hint towards a progenitor mass between 12 and 20 M⊙.