Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2006-02-10
Astron.J.132:189-196,2006
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
18 pages, 5 figures, to appear in The Astronomical Journal; minor revisions to match accepted version
Scientific paper
10.1086/504599
We present Keck optical spectra of SN 2002cx, the most peculiar known Type Ia supernova (SN Ia), taken 227 and 277 days past maximum light. Astonishingly, the spectra are not dominated by the forbidden emission lines of iron that are a hallmark of thermonuclear supernovae in the nebular phase. Instead, we identify numerous P-Cygni profiles of Fe II at very low expansion velocities of about 700 km/s, which are without precedent in SNe Ia. We also report the tentative identification of low-velocity O I in these spectra, suggesting the presence of unburned material near the center of the exploding white dwarf. SN 2002cx is the prototype of a new subclass of SNe Ia, with spectral characteristics that may be consistent with recent pure deflagration models of Chandrasekhar-mass thermonuclear supernovae. These are distinct from the majority of SNe Ia, for which an alternative explosion mechanism, such as a delayed detonation, may be required.
Branch David
Casebeer Darrin
Chornock Ryan
Filippenko Alexei V.
Foley Ryan J.
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