Other
Scientific paper
Jan 2010
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010aas...21543016s&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #215, #430.16; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 42, p.358
Other
Scientific paper
We present progenitor star detections, light curves, and spectra of SN2009ip and the 2009 optical transient in UGC2773 (U2773-OT), which were not genuine supernovae. Precursor variability in the decade before outburst indicates that both progenitor stars were luminous blue variables (LBVs). Their pre-outburst light curves resemble the S Doradus phases that preceded giant eruptions of Eta Car and SN1954J (V12 in NGC2403), and their progenitor luminosities are between those of Car and V12. After reaching its peak, SN2009ip showed a spectacular fading of 3.2 mag over just 16 days, followed by an immediate resurgence, reminiscent of a rapid dip experienced by Eta Car just before its giant 1843 eruption. HST detections a decade before discovery indicate that the SN 2009ip and U2773-OT progenitors were supergiants with likely initial masses of 50-80 Msun and about 20 Msun, respectively. Both objects had spectra befitting known LBVs, although in different physical states. The spectrum of U2773-OT exhibits [CaII] emission and IR excess, similar to SN2008S and the 2008 optical transient in NGC 300 (N300-OT), whereas SN2009ip showed neither of these features. Yet, both SN2009ip and U2773-OT are clearly LBVs. We propose, therefore, that the presence of [CaII] emission is tied to a dusty pre-outburst environment, which may or may not be present around any particular LBV, and is not a distinguishing property of the outburst mechanism. IR luminosities for the obscured progenitors of SN2008S and N300-OT, while faint compared to Eta Car, are comparable to the apparent progenitor luminosities of U2773-OT, V12, and other LBVs. Thus, the LBV nature of SN2009ip and U2773-OT may provide a critical link between historical LBV eruptions and the unusual dust-obscured transients. Future searches will uncover more examples of precursor LBV variability, providing key clues that may help unravel the instability driving LBV eruptions in massive stars.
Bernstein Rebecca
Bloom Josh S.
Colucci J.
Filippenko Alexei V.
Ghez Andrea
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