Gravitational wave radiation from magnetar-driven supernovae

TL;DR

This paper explores how gravitational wave radiation from magnetars influences supernova light curves, proposing that future detections could confirm magnetars as the engines behind certain supernovae.

Contribution

It models supernova light curves considering GW and magnetic dipole radiation, constrains magnetar parameters, and suggests observational signatures for future GW detections.

Findings

Magnetar ellipticity around 10^{-3} induced by magnetic fields of ~10^{16} G

Signature of GW radiation may be observed in specific supernova light curves

Future GW detectors could confirm magnetar engines in supernovae

Abstract

Rapidly spinning magnetars are potential candidates for the energy source of supernovae (SNe) and gamma-ray bursts and the most promising sources for continuous gravitational waves (GWs) detected by ground-based GW detectors. Continuous GWs can be radiated from magnetars due to magnetic-induced deformation or fluid oscillations, compatible with magnetic dipole (MD) radiation for spin-down energy. In this paper, we investigate the diverse light curves of magnetar-driven SNe in the scenario that the spin-down is dominated by GW radiation and/or MD radiation. By simulating the light curves of SNe and employing the Markov chain Monte Carlo method, we constrain the parameters of the magnetars and SN explosions and show that the signature of GW radiation may be indicated by the bolometric luminosity curves of SNe Ic-BL 2007ru and 2009bb. We find that the ellipticity of magnetars in the order of $10^{-3}$ can be induced by the magnetic field of $\sim 10^{16} \mbox{ G}$. If such continuous GWs associated with SNe can be detected in the future by the Advanced LIGO and Virgo detectors, this would be a smoking gun for a magnetar engine powering SNe.