SN 2020pvb: A Type IIn-P supernova with a precursor outburst

Abstract

We present photometric and spectroscopic datasets for a Type IIn-P supernova (SN) that is similar to SNe 1994W, 2005cl, 2009kn, and 2011ht, with a precursor outburst detected (PS1 $w$ band sim -13.8 mag) around four months before the $B$-band maximum light. presents a relatively bright light curve that peaked at $M_B$ = -17.95 pm 0.30 mag and a plateau that lasted at least 40 days before going into solar conjunction. After this, the object was no longer visible at phases $>$ 150 days above -12.5 mag in the $B$ band, suggesting that the ejecta interact with a dense, spatially confined circumstellar envelope. shows strong Balmer lines and a forest of Fe ii lines with narrow P Cygni profiles in its spectra. Using archival images from the Hubble Space Telescope, we constrained the progenitor of to have a luminosity of $ sun ruling out any single star progenitor over 50 $M_ sun$ is a Type IIn-P whose progenitor star had an outburst sim 0.5 yr before the final explosion; the material lost during this outburst probably plays a role in shaping the physical properties of the SN.