Bumpy Superluminous Supernovae Powered by a Magnetar-star Binary Engine

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel model where a magnetar-star binary engine explains the complex lightcurve bumps and spectral features observed in hydrogen-poor superluminous supernovae, emphasizing the role of companion star evaporation.

Contribution

It introduces the magnetar-star binary engine model, linking binary interactions and magnetar winds to superluminous supernova features, a new perspective in SLSN research.

Findings

The model reproduces observed lightcurve peaks and bumps.

Estimated evaporated companion mass is 0.4-0.6 solar masses.

Explains polarization evolution and spectral broadening in SLSNe.

Abstract

Wolf-Rayet stars in close binary systems can be tidally spun up by their companions, potentially leaving behind fast-spinning highly-magnetized neutron stars, known as ``magnetars", after core collapse. These newborn magnetars can transfer rotational energy into heating and accelerating the ejecta, producing hydrogen-poor superluminous supernovae (SLSNe). In this {\em{Letter}}, we propose that the magnetar wind of the newborn magnetar could significantly evaporate its companion star, typically a main-sequence or helium star, if the binary system is not disrupted by the {abrupt mass loss and} SN kick. The subsequent heating and acceleration of the evaporated star material along with the SN ejecta by the magnetar wind can produce a post-peak bump in the SLSN lightcurve. Our model can reproduce the primary peaks and post-peak bumps of four example observed multiband SLSN lightcurves, revealing that the mass of the evaporated material could be $\sim0.4-0.6\,M_\odot$ if the material is hydrogen-rich. {We propose that the magnetar could induce strongly enhanced evaporation from its companion star near the pericenter if the orbit of the post-SN binary is highly eccentric, ultimately generating multiple post-peak bumps in the SLSN lightcurves. This ``magnetar-star binary engine" model may offer a possible explanation for the evolution of polarization, along with the origin and velocity broadening of late-time hydrogen or helium broad spectral features observed in some bumpy SLSNe.} The diversity in the lightcurves and spectra of SLSNe may be attributed to the wide variety of companion stars and post-SN binary systems.