LSQ14efd: observations of the cooling of a shock break-out event in a type Ic Supernova

TL;DR

This paper reports on the detailed photometric and spectroscopic observations of the type Ic supernova LSQ14efd, highlighting the detection of shock break-out cooling and estimating explosion parameters, with implications for supernova classification.

Contribution

First observation of shock break-out cooling in a type Ic supernova, providing detailed modeling and comparison with other supernovae to understand explosion energetics.

Findings

Detected shock break-out cooling in LSQ14efd

Estimated ejecta mass of 6.3 solar masses

Derived kinetic energy of approximately 5.6 x 10^51 erg

Abstract

We present the photometric and spectroscopic evolution of the type Ic supernova LSQ14efd, discovered by the La Silla QUEST survey and followed by PESSTO. LSQ14efd was discovered few days after explosion and the observations cover up to ~100 days. The early photometric points show the signature of the cooling of the shock break-out event experienced by the progenitor at the time of the supernova explosion, one of the first for a type Ic supernova. A comparison with type Ic supernova spectra shows that LSQ14efd is quite similar to the type Ic SN 2004aw. These two supernovae have kinetic energies that are intermediate between standard Ic explosions and those which are the most energetic explosions known (e.g. SN 1998bw). We computed an analytical model for the light-curve peak and estimated the mass of the ejecta 6.3 +/- 0.5 Msun, a synthesized nickel mass of 0.25 Msun and a kinetic energy of Ekin = 5.6 +/- 0.5 x 10^51 erg. No connection between LSQ14efd and a GRB event could be established. However we point out that the supernova shows some spectroscopic similarities with the peculiar SN-Ia 1999ac and the SN-Iax SN 2008A. A core-collapse origin is most probable considering the spectroscopic, photometric evolution and the detection of the cooling of the shock break-out.