A Multiwavelength Autopsy of the Interacting Type IIn Supernova 2020ywx: Tracing Its Progenitor Mass-loss History for 100 Yr Before Death

Abstract While the subclass of interacting supernovae (SNe) with narrow hydrogen emission lines (Type IIn supernovae (SNe IIn)) consists of some of the longest-lasting and brightest supernovae (SNe) ever discovered, their progenitors are still not well understood. Investigating SNe IIn as they emit across the electromagnetic spectrum is the most robust way to understand the progenitor evolution before the explosion. This work presents X-ray, optical, infrared, and radio observations of the strongly interacting Type IIn supernova, SN 2020ywx, covering a period >1200 days after discovery. Through multiwavelength modeling, we find that the progenitor of 2020ywx was losing mass at ∼10 −2 –10 −3 M ⊙ yr −1 for at least 100 yr pre-explosion using the circumstellar medium (CSM) speed of 120 km s −1 measured from optical and near-infrared (NIR) spectra. Despite the similar magnitude of mass loss measured in different wavelength ranges, we find discrepancies between the X-ray and optical/radio-derived mass-loss evolution, which suggest asymmetries in the CSM. Furthermore, we find evidence for dust formation due to the combination of a growing blueshift in optical emission lines and NIR continuum emission which we fit with blackbodies at ∼1000 K. Based on the observed elevated mass loss over more than 100 yr and the configuration of the CSM inferred from the multiwavelength observations, we invoke binary interaction as the most plausible mechanism to explain the overall mass-loss evolution. SN 2020ywx is thus a case that may support the growing observational consensus that SNe IIn mass loss is explained by binary interaction.

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Publication Details

Journal
The Astrophysical Journal
Published
2025-04-11
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adc00a
Citations
5
Primary Topic
Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
5.77

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article

A Multiwavelength Autopsy of the Interacting Type IIn Supernova 2020ywx: Tracing Its Progenitor Mass-loss History for 100 Yr Before Death

Adrian Crawford, Yi Yang, Vikram V. Dwarkadas, Roger A. Chevalier et al.
5 citations
The Astrophysical Journal
Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae
5.77
article

A Multiwavelength Autopsy of the Interacting Type IIn Supernova 2020ywx: Tracing Its Progenitor Mass-loss History for 100 Yr Before Death

Adrian Crawford, Yi Yang, Vikram V. Dwarkadas, Roger A. Chevalier, C. Pellegrino, Nathan Smith, Jeniveve Pearson, Jennifer E. Andrews, D. Hiramatsu, Arkaprabha Sarangi, G. Hosseinzadeh, A. V. Filippenko, I. Arcavi, Estefania Padilla Gonzalez, M. Modjaz, P. Chandra, Yize Dong, S. Valenti, Joseph Farah, S. Wyatt, David J. Sand, WeiKang Zheng, Keiichi Maeda, N. Meza, G. Terreran, C. McCully, Thomas G. Brink, Megan Newsome, Sahana Kumar, D. A. Howell, Manisha Shrestha, Raphael Baer-Way, K. Azalee Bostroem, A. J. Nayana
article en
5 citations

Abstract

Abstract While the subclass of interacting supernovae (SNe) with narrow hydrogen emission lines (Type IIn supernovae (SNe IIn)) consists of some of the longest-lasting and brightest supernovae (SNe) ever discovered, their progenitors are still not well understood. Investigating SNe IIn as they emit across the electromagnetic spectrum is the most robust way to understand the progenitor evolution before the explosion. This work presents X-ray, optical, infrared, and radio observations of the strongly interacting Type IIn supernova, SN 2020ywx, covering a period >1200 days after discovery. Through multiwavelength modeling, we find that the progenitor of 2020ywx was losing mass at ∼10 −2 –10 −3 M ⊙ yr −1 for at least 100 yr pre-explosion using the circumstellar medium (CSM) speed of 120 km s −1 measured from optical and near-infrared (NIR) spectra. Despite the similar magnitude of mass loss measured in different wavelength ranges, we find discrepancies between the X-ray and optical/radio-derived mass-loss evolution, which suggest asymmetries in the CSM. Furthermore, we find evidence for dust formation due to the combination of a growing blueshift in optical emission lines and NIR continuum emission which we fit with blackbodies at ∼1000 K. Based on the observed elevated mass loss over more than 100 yr and the configuration of the CSM inferred from the multiwavelength observations, we invoke binary interaction as the most plausible mechanism to explain the overall mass-loss evolution. SN 2020ywx is thus a case that may support the growing observational consensus that SNe IIn mass loss is explained by binary interaction.

The Astrophysical JournalVol. 983(2)
Ruhr University Bochum (DE)
National Science Foundation, Smithsonian Institution, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, W. M. Keck Foundation, Virginia Space Grant Consortium, California Institute of Technology, University of Washington, Heising-Simons Foundation, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Trinity College Dublin, Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, Stockholms Universitet, University of California Observatories, Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules
Openalex Percentile: Top 4%
Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae
5.77
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