Optical and near-IR observations of the faint and fast 2008ha-like supernova 2010ae

Abstract

A comprehensive set of optical and near-infrared (NIR) photometry and spectroscopy is presented for the faint and fast 2008halike supernova (SN) 2010ae. Contingent on the adopted value of host extinction, SN 2010ae reached a peak brightness of −13.8 > MV > −15.3 mag, while modeling of the UVOIR light curve suggests it produced 0.003–0.007 M of 56Ni, ejected 0.30−0.60 M of material, and had an explosion energy of 0.04–0.30 × 1051 erg. The values of these explosion parameters are similar to the peculiar SN 2008ha –for which we also present previously unpublished early phase optical and NIR light curves – and places these two transients at the faint end of the 2002cx-like SN population. Detailed inspection of the post-maximum NIR spectroscopic sequence indicates the presence of a multitude of spectral features, which are identified through SYNAPPS modeling to be mainly attributed to Co ii. Comparison with a collection of published and unpublished NIR spectra of other 2002cx-like SNe, reveals that a Co ii footprint is ubiquitous to this subclass of transients, providing a link to Type Ia SNe. A visual-wavelength spectrum of SN 2010ae obtained at +252 days past maximum shows a striking resemblance to a similar epoch spectrum of SN 2002cx. However, subtle differences in the strength and ratio of calcium emission features, as well as diversity among similar epoch spectra of other 2002cx-like SNe indicates a range of physical conditions of the ejecta, highlighting the heterogeneous nature of this peculiar class of transients.