Constraints on the origin of the first light from SN2014J

TL;DR

This study analyzes early lightcurve data of supernova SN2014J, revealing insights into the progenitor environment and explosion timing, with implications for understanding supernova origins.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed early lightcurve analysis of SN2014J using high-cadence observations, constraining the explosion time and progenitor environment.

Findings

Early lightcurve consistent with shock-heated material larger than 1 R_sun

Detected structure suggests radioactive material in outer white dwarf layers

Estimated explosion time with a systematic uncertainty of ±0.3 days

Abstract

We study the very early lightcurve of supernova 2014J (SN 2014J) using the high-cadence broad-band imaging data obtained by the Kilodegree Extremely Little Telescope (KELT), which fortuitously observed M 82 around the time of the explosion, starting more than two months prior to detection, with up to 20 observations per night. These observations are complemented by observations in two narrow-band filters used in an H$\alpha$ survey of nearby galaxies by the intermediate Palomar Transient Factory (iPTF) that also captured the first days of the brightening of the \sn. The evolution of the lightcurves is consistent with the expected signal from the cooling of shock heated material of large scale dimensions, $\gsim 1 R_{\odot}$. This could be due to heated material of the progenitor, a companion star or pre-existing circumstellar environment, e.g., in the form of an accretion disk. Structure seen in the lightcurves during the first days after explosion could also originate from radioactive material in the outer parts of an exploding white dwarf, as suggested from the early detection of gamma-rays. The model degeneracy translates into a systematic uncertainty of $\pm 0.3$ days on the estimate of the first light from SN 2014J.