The mystery of photometric twins DES17X1boj and DES16E2bjy
Date
2020
Authors
Pursiainen, Miika
Gutierrez, C P
Wiseman, P
Childress, Michael J
Smith, M
Frohmaier, C
Angus, C
Castro Segura, N
Kelsey, Lisa
Sullivan, M
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Oxford University Press
Abstract
We present an analysis of DES17X1boj and DES16E2bjy, two peculiar transients discovered by the Dark Energy Survey (DES). They exhibit nearly identical double-peaked light curves that reach very different maximum luminosities (Mr = −15.4 and −17.9, respectively). The light-curve evolution of these events is highly atypical and has not been reported before. The transients are found in different host environments: DES17X1boj was found near the nucleus of a spiral galaxy, while DES16E2bjy is located in the outskirts of a passive red galaxy. Early photometric data are well fitted with a blackbody and the resulting moderate photospheric expansion velocities (1800 km s−1 for DES17X1boj and 4800 km s−1 for DES16E2bjy) suggest an explosive or eruptive origin. Additionally, a feature identified as high-velocity Ca II absorption (v ≈ 9400 km s−1) in the near-peak spectrum of DES17X1boj may imply that it is a supernova. While similar light-curve evolution suggests a similar physical origin for these two transients, we are not able to identify or characterize the progenitors.
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Keywords
supernovae: general
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Source
Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Type
Journal article
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Open Access
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