Optical Follow-Up Observations of PTF10qts, a Luminous Broad-Lined Type Ic Supernova Found by the Palomar Transient Factory

TL;DR

This paper reports optical observations of the luminous broad-lined Type Ic supernova PTF10qts, analyzing its light curve and spectra to estimate physical parameters, highlighting its high luminosity without an associated gamma-ray burst.

Contribution

First detailed optical follow-up of PTF10qts, constraining its bolometric light curve and physical explosion parameters, revealing a high nickel mass and progenitor characteristics.

Findings

Bolometric magnitude at maximum: -18.51 mag.

Produced a larger nickel mass than similar SNe Ic-BL.

No associated gamma-ray burst detected.

Abstract

We present optical photometry and spectroscopy of the broad-lined Type Ic supernova (SNIc-BL) PTF10qts, which was discovered as part of the Palomar Transient Factory. The supernova was located in a dwarf galaxy of magnitude $r=21.1$ at a redshift $z=0.0907$. We find that the $R$-band light curve is a poor proxy for bolometric data and use photometric and spectroscopic data to construct and constrain the bolometric light curve. The derived bolometric magnitude at maximum light is $M_{\rm bol} = -18.51\pm0.2$ mag, comparable to that of SN 1998bw ($M_{\rm bol} = -18.7$ mag) which was associated with a gamma-ray burst (GRB). PTF10qts is one of the most luminous SNIc-BL observed without an accompanying GRB. We estimate the physical parameters of the explosion using data from our programme of follow-up observations, finding that it produced a larger mass of radioactive nickel compared to other SNeIc-BL with similar inferred ejecta masses and kinetic energies. The progenitor of the event was likely a $\sim20$M$_{\odot}$ star.