Spatially resolved molecular gas properties of host galaxy of Type I superluminous supernova SN 2017egm

Abstract

Abstract We present the results of CO(1–0) observations of the host galaxy of a Type I superluminous supernova (SLSN-I), SN 2017egm, one of the closest SLSNe-I at z = 0.03063, by using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array. The molecular gas mass of the host galaxy is Mgas = (4.8 ± 0.3) × 109 M⊙, placing it on the sequence of normal star-forming galaxies in an Mgas–star-formation rate (SFR) plane. The molecular hydrogen column density at the location of SN 2017egm is higher than that of the Type II SN PTF10bgl, which is also located in the same host galaxy, and those of other Type II and Ia SNe located in different galaxies, suggesting that SLSNe-I have a preference for a dense molecular gas environment. On the other hand, the column density at the location of SN 2017egm is comparable to those of Type Ibc SNe. The surface densities of molecular gas and the SFR at the location of SN 2017egm are consistent with those of spatially resolved local star-forming galaxies and follow the Schmidt–Kennicutt relation. These facts suggest that SLSNe-I can occur in environments with the same star-formation mechanism as in normal star-forming galaxies.