JWST/MIRI Observations of Newly Formed Dust in the Cold, Dense Shell of the Type IIn SN 2005ip

TL;DR

This study uses JWST/MIRI observations of SN 2005ip over 15 years to reveal significant dust formation in the cold, dense shell, highlighting supernovae's role in early universe dust enrichment.

Contribution

First detection of large dust mass forming in the cold, dense shell of a Type IIn supernova using JWST, providing new insights into supernova dust production mechanisms.

Findings

Discovered a high-mass dust component (>0.08 M☉) formed over 15 years.

Identified a smaller amount of carbonaceous dust (~0.005 M☉) in the ejecta.

Demonstrated ongoing dust formation in the cold, dense shell of SN 2005ip.

Abstract

Dust from core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe), specifically Type IIP SNe, has been suggested to be a significant source of the dust observed in high-redshift galaxies. CCSNe eject large amounts of newly formed heavy elements, which can condense into dust grains in the cooling ejecta. However, infrared (IR) observations of typical CCSNe generally measure dust masses that are too small to account for the dust production needed at high redshifts. Type IIn SNe, classified by their dense circumstellar medium (CSM), are also known to exhibit strong IR emission from warm dust, but the dust origin and heating mechanism have generally remained unconstrained because of limited observational capabilities in the mid-IR. Here, we present a JWST/MIRI Medium Resolution Spectrograph (MRS) spectrum of the Type IIn SN 2005ip nearly 17 years post-explosion. The Type IIn SN 2005ip is one of the longest-lasting and most well-studied SNe observed to date. Combined with a Spitzer mid-IR spectrum of SN 2005ip obtained in 2008, this data set provides a rare 15-year baseline, allowing for a unique investigation of the evolution of dust. The JWST spectrum shows a new high-mass dust component ($\gtrsim0.08$ M$_{\odot}$) that is not present in the earlier Spitzer spectrum. Our analysis shows dust likely formed over the past 15 years in the cold, dense shell (CDS), between the forward and reverse shocks. There is also a smaller mass of carbonaceous dust ($\gtrsim0.005$ M$_{\odot}$) in the ejecta. These observations provide new insights into the role of SN dust production, particularly within the CDS, and its potential contribution to the rapid dust enrichment of the early Universe.