SN 2015bh: NGC 2770's 4th supernova or a luminous blue variable on its way to a Wolf-Rayet star?

DOI: 
10.1051/0004-6361/201629968
Publication date: 
29/03/2017
Main author: 
Thöne C.C.
IAA authors: 
Thöne, C.C.;De Ugarte Postigo, A.;Cano, Z.
Authors: 
Thöne C.C., De Ugarte Postigo A., Leloudas G., Gall C., Cano Z., Maeda K., Schulze S., Campana S., Wiersema K., Groh J., De La Rosa J., Bauer F.E., Malesani D., Maund J., Morrell N., Beletsky Y.
Journal: 
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Publication type: 
Article
Volume: 
599
Pages: 
Number: 
A129
Abstract: 
Very massive stars in the final phases of their lives often show unpredictable outbursts that can mimic supernovae, so-called, 'SN impostors', but the distinction is not always straightforward. Here we present observations of a luminous blue variable (LBV) in NGC 2770 in outburst over more than 20 yr that experienced a possible terminal explosion as type IIn SN in 2015, named SN 2015bh. This possible SN (or 'main event') had a precursor peaking ∼40 days before maximum. The total energy release of the main event is ∼1.8 × 1049 erg, consistent with a <0.5 M shell plunging into a dense CSM. The emission lines show a single narrow P Cygni profile during the LBV phase and a double P Cygni profile post maximum suggesting an association of the second component with the possible SN. Since 1994 the star has been redder than an LBV in an S-Dor-like outburst. SN 2015bh lies within a spiral arm of NGC 2770 next to several small star-forming regions with a metallicity of ∼0.5 solar and a stellar population age of 7-10 Myr. SN 2015bh shares many similarities with SN 2009ip and may form a new class of objects that exhibit outbursts a few decades prior to a 'hyper eruption' or final core-collapse. If the star survives this event it is undoubtedly altered, and we suggest that these 'zombie stars' may evolve from an LBV to a Wolf-Rayet star over the timescale of only a few years. The final fate of these stars can only be determined with observations a decade or more after the SN-like event. © ESO, 2017.
Database: 
SCOPUS
ADS
URL: 
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85015281673&doi=10.1051%2f0004-6361%2f201629968&partnerID=40&md5=f6c715d26eb8b543790c53668b0d1d2a
ADS Bibcode: 
2017A&A...599A.129T
Keywords: 
Stars: massive; Supernovae: individual: SN 2015bh, SN 2009ip