Optical observations of a SN 2002cx-like peculiar supernova SN 2013en in UGC 11369

TL;DR

This paper reports optical observations of the peculiar supernova SN 2013en, similar to SN 2002cx, highlighting its underluminous nature, spectral features, and evolution over 60 days, suggesting a common progenitor or explosion mechanism.

Contribution

First detailed optical study of SN 2013en, revealing its similarities to SN 2002cx-like supernovae and providing insights into its luminosity, spectral features, and evolution.

Findings

SN 2013en is underluminous with M(R) ~ -18.6 mag.

Spectra show low expansion velocities (~6000 km/s).

Photometric and spectroscopic evolution resembles SN 2002cx and SN 2005hk.

Abstract

We present optical observations of a SN 2002cx-like supernova SN 2013en in UGC 11369, spanning from a phase near maximum light (t= +1 d) to t= +60 d with respect to the R-band maximum. Adopting a distance modulus of mu=34.11 +/- 0.15 mag and a total extinction (host galaxy+Milky Way) of $A_V \sim1.5$ mag, we found that SN 2013en peaked at $M(R)\sim -18.6$ mag, which is underluminous compared to the normal SNe Ia. The near maximum spectra show lines of Si II, Fe II, Fe III, Cr II, Ca II and other intermediate-mass and iron group elements which all have lower expansion velocities (i.e., ~ 6000 km/s). The photometric and spectroscopic evolution of SN 2013en is remarkably similar to those of SN 2002cx and SN 2005hk, suggesting that they are likely to be generated from a similar progenitor scenario or explosion mechanism.