SN 2020jfo: A short plateau Type II supernova from a low mass progenitor

TL;DR

SN 2020jfo is a short-plateau Type IIP supernova from a low-mass progenitor, exhibiting unique spectral features and evidence of circumstellar interaction, with detailed modeling estimating its ejecta and progenitor mass.

Contribution

This study provides detailed spectroscopic, photometric, and hydrodynamical modeling of SN 2020jfo, revealing its low-mass progenitor and circumstellar interaction, which are novel insights for Type IIP supernovae.

Findings

Short plateau lasting < 65 days.

Ejected $^{56}$Ni mass of 0.033 solar masses.

Evidence of circumstellar material interaction.

Abstract

We present spectroscopic and photometric observations of the Type IIP supernova, SN 2020jfo, in ultraviolet and optical wavelengths. SN 2020jfo occurred in the spiral galaxy M61 (NGC 4303), with eight observed supernovae in the past 100 years. SN 2020jfo exhibited a short plateau lasting < 65 d, and achieved a maximum brightness in V-band of $M_V$ = -17.4 $\pm$ 0.4 mag at about 8.0 $\pm$ 0.5 d since explosion. From the bolometric light curve, we have estimated the mass of $^{56}$Ni synthesised in the explosion to be 0.033 $\pm$ 0.006 $M_\odot$. The observed spectral features are typical for a type IIP supernova except for shallow H$\alpha$ absorption throughout the evolution and the presence of stable $^{58}$Ni feature at 7378 \r{A}, in the nebular phase. Using hydrodynamical modelling in the MESA + STELLA framework, an ejecta mass of ~ 5 $M_\odot$ is estimated. Models also indicate SN 2020jfo could be the result of a Red Super Giant progenitor with $M_{ZAMS}$ ~ 12 $M_\odot$. Bolometric light curve modelling revealed the presence of a secondary radiation source for initial ~ 20 d, which has been attributed to interaction with a circumstellar material of mass ~ 0.2 $M_\odot$, which most likely was ejected due to enhanced mass loss about 20 years prior to the supernova explosion.