# A superluminous supernova in high surface density molecular gas within the bar of a metal-rich galaxy

## TL;DR

This study uses ALMA observations to analyze the molecular gas distribution in a metal-rich galaxy hosting a superluminous supernova, revealing high-density gas regions conducive to massive star formation.

## Contribution

First detailed ALMA study of molecular gas in a superluminous supernova host galaxy, linking gas dynamics to supernova progenitor formation.

## Key findings

- Molecular gas confined within the galaxy's bar structure.
- Gas flows along lanes likely lead to massive cloud and star formation.
- High surface density of molecular gas near the supernova location.

## Abstract

We report the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations of the metal rich host galaxy of superluminous supernova (SLSN) PTF10tpz, a barred spiral galaxy at z=0.03994. We find the CO(1-0) emission to be confined within the bar of the galaxy. The distribution and kinematics of molecular gas in the host galaxy resemble gas flows along two lanes running from the tips of the bar towards the galaxy center. These gas lanes end in a gaseous structure in the inner region of the galaxy, likely associated with an inner Lindblad resonance. The interaction between the large-scale gas flows in the bar and the gas in the inner region plausibly leads to the formation of massive molecular clouds and consequently massive clusters. This in turn can result in formation of massive stars, and thus the likely progenitor of the SLSN in a young, massive cluster. This picture is consistent with SLSN PTF10tpz being located near the inner structure. We find the molecular gas in the vicinity of the SLSN to have high surface densities, comparable with those in interacting galaxies or starburst regions in nearby galaxies. This lends support to high densities being favorable conditions for formation of SLSNe progenitors.