Supernova 2009ip outbursts in 2012: From scenario to model

TL;DR

This paper models two 2012 outbursts of supernova 2009ip, explaining their causes through explosive shell ejection and ejecta interaction, and predicts an unobserved outburst based on a proposed scenario.

Contribution

It introduces spherical and aspherical models for supernova 2009ip's 2012 outbursts based on a new scenario involving shell ejection and shock breakout predictions.

Findings

Predicted an unobserved outburst in late July 2012.

Estimated ejecta energy and mass from models.

Attributed the August outburst to central source activity and the September outburst to ejecta interaction.

Abstract

Spherical and aspherical models are presented for two outbursts in 2012 of supernova 2009ip. Models are based on a scenario which suggests that the August 2012 outburst is caused by the explosive shell ejection from LBV-presupernova. The model predicts an emergence of an unobserved outburst in late July 2012 related to a shock breakout and a subsequent diffusive radiative cooling of the ejected envelope. The luminosity of the first observed outburst in August 2012 was presumably powered by the central source, whereas the second, more powerful outburst in late September 2012, was caused by the ejecta interaction with the circumstellar envelope. Models provide estimates of the ejecta energy and mass along with the mass of the circumstellar shell.