JWST Nebular Spectroscopy of SN 2023qov: Circumstellar Dust Emission in a Normal Type Ia Supernova

TL;DR

This paper reports the first spectroscopic detection of dust emission in a normal Type Ia supernova using JWST, revealing circumstellar dust characteristics and ejecta asymmetries.

Contribution

It provides the first unambiguous infrared spectroscopic evidence of dust in a normal SN Ia and models its properties and origin.

Findings

Detected ~400 K dust emission in SN 2023qov with JWST.

Dust likely from pre-existing circumstellar material, not active creation.

Ejecta show asymmetry and possible toroidal structure.

Abstract

We present panchromatic observations of the Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) 2023qov, ranging from $\sim$2 weeks before to $\sim$1 year after maximum light. \textit{JWST} near- and mid-infrared spectra at $+$276 and $+$363~days show $\sim$400 K dust emission that cools by $\sim$75 K between epochs, the first unambiguous spectroscopic detection of dust emission in a normal SN Ia. We find that the emission is well described by models of carbonaceous dust placed within $\sim$1 light year of the SN, with a dust mass of $\sim$$10^{-4}$ M$_{\odot}$. We do not see evidence of active dust creation, suggesting an infrared light echo by pre-existing circumstellar dust as the likely source of the emission. The \textit{JWST} nebular line profiles suggest asymmetric, stratified ejecta, similar to other normal SNe Ia, though a slight double-horn structure in the argon lines indicate a toroidal enhancement. SN 2023qov exhibits a slightly red, fast-declining early light curve ($\Delta m_{15}(B) = 1.47 \pm 0.05$ mag), from which we determine a $^{56}$Ni mass of $M_{56} = 0.21 \pm 0.04$ M$_{\odot}$, and a distance of $d = 36.0 \pm 1.8$ Mpc to the SN and its host, NGC 7029.