A numerical light curve model for interaction-powered supernovae

Abstract

Abstract We construct a numerical light curve model for interaction-powered supernovae that arise from an interaction between the ejecta and the circumstellar matter (CSM). In order to resolve the shocked region of an interaction-powered supernova, we solve the fluid equations and radiative transfer equation assuming steady states in the rest frames of the reverse and forward shocks at each time step. Then we numerically solve the radiative transfer equation and the energy equation in the CSM with the radiative flux obtained from the forward shock as a radiation source. We also compare the results of our models with observational data of two supernovae, 2005kj and 2005ip, classified as type IIn, and discuss the validity of our assumptions. We conclude that our model can predict the physical parameters associated with supernova ejecta and the CSM from the observed features of the light curve as long as the CSM is sufficiently dense. Furthermore, we found that the absorption of radiation in the CSM is an important factor in calculating the luminosity.