Nearby Type Ia Supernovae Research Articles

Early-time Observations of SN 2023wrk: A Luminous Type Ia Supernova with Significant Unburned Carbon in the Outer Ejecta

We present extensive photometric and spectroscopic observations of the nearby Type Ia supernova (SN) 2023wrk at a distance of about 40 Mpc. The earliest detection of this SN can be traced back to a few hours after the explosion. Within the first few days, the light curve shows a bump feature, while the B − V color is blue and remains nearly constant. The overall spectral evolution is similar to that of an SN 1991T/SN 1999aa-like SN Ia, while the C ii λ6580 absorption line appears to be unusually strong in the first spectrum taken at t ≈ −15.4 days after the maximum light. This carbon feature disappears quickly in subsequent evolution but it reappears at around the time of peak brightness. The complex evolution of the carbon line and the possible detection of Ni iii absorption around 4700 Å and 5300 Å in the earliest spectra indicate macroscopic mixing of fuel and ash. The strong carbon lines are likely related to the collision of SN ejecta with unbound carbon, consistent with the predictions of pulsational delayed-detonation or carbon-rich circumstellar-matter interaction models. Among those carbon-rich SNe Ia with strong C ii λ6580 absorption at very early times, the line-strength ratio of C ii to Si ii and the B − V color evolution are found to exhibit large diversity, which may be attributed to different properties of unbound carbon and outward-mixing 56Ni.

Origin of the Strong Sodium Absorption of the Lensed Supernova 2016geu at z = 0.4

The origin of strong sodium absorption, which has been observed for a few nearby Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia), remains elusive. Here we analyze two high-signal-to-noise, intermediate-resolution Very Large Telescope/X-shooter spectra at epochs +18 and +27 days past peak brightness of the strongly lensed and multiply imaged Type Ia SN 2016geu, which exploded at a redshift of z = 0.4. We show that SN 2016geu exhibits very strong multiple Na i and Ca ii absorption lines with a large total Na i D rest-frame equivalent width (EW) of 5.2 ± 0.2 Å, among the highest ever detected for an SN Ia and similar to only a handful of nearby SNe Ia with extraordinarily large Na i D EWs. The absorption system is time-invariant and extends over a large velocity span ∼250 km s−1. The majority of the absorption is blueshifted relative to the strongest component, while there are both blueshifted and redshifted components relative to the systemic redshift of the galaxy. The column density ratios and widths of the absorption lines indicate that the absorption likely arises from a combination of interstellar dusty molecular clouds and circumgalactic in- and outflowing material rather than circumstellar matter around the supernova.

SN 2022joj: A Potential Double Detonation with a Thin Helium Shell

We present photometric and spectroscopic data for SN 2022joj, a nearby peculiar Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) with a fast decline rate (Δm 15,B = 1.4 mag). SN 2022joj shows exceedingly red colors, with a value of approximately B − V ≈ 1.1 mag during its initial stages, beginning from 11 days before maximum brightness. As it evolves, the flux shifts toward the blue end of the spectrum, approaching B − V ≈ 0 mag around maximum light. Furthermore, at maximum light and beyond, the photometry is consistent with that of typical SNe Ia. This unusual behavior extends to its spectral characteristics, which initially displayed a red spectrum and later evolved to exhibit greater consistency with typical SNe Ia. Spectroscopically, we find strong agreement between SN 2022joj and double detonation models with white dwarf masses of around 1 M ⊙ and a thin He shell between 0.01 and 0.05 M ⊙. Moreover, the early red colors are explained by line-blanketing absorption from iron peak elements created by the double detonation scenario in similar mass ranges. The nebular spectra in SN 2022joj deviate from expectations for double detonation, as we observe strong [Fe iii] emission instead of [Ca ii] lines as anticipated, though this is not as robust a prediction as early red colors and spectra. The fact that as He shells get thinner these SNe start to look more like normal SNe Ia raises the possibility that this is the triggering mechanism for the majority of SNe Ia, though evidence would be missed if the SNe are not observed early enough.

The HST Nondetection of SN Ia 2011fe 11.5 yr after Explosion Further Restricts Single-degenerate Progenitor Systems

We present deep Hubble Space Telescope imaging of the nearby Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) 2011fe obtained 11.5 yr after explosion. No emission is detected at the SN location to a 1σ (3σ) limit of F555W > 30.2 (29.0) mag, or equivalently M V > 1.2 (−0.1) mag, neglecting the distance uncertainty to M101. We constrain the presence of donor stars impacted by the SN ejecta with the strictest limits thus far on compact (i.e., logg≳4 ) companions. H-rich zero-age main-sequence companions with masses ≥2 M ⊙ are excluded, a significant improvement upon the preexplosion imaging limit of ≈5 M ⊙. Main-sequence He stars with masses ≥1.0 M ⊙ and subgiant He stars with masses ≤0.8 M ⊙ are also disfavored by our late-time imaging. Synthesizing our limits on postimpact donors with previous constraints from preexplosion imaging, early-time radio and X-ray observations, and nebular-phase spectroscopy, essentially all formation channels for SN 2011fe invoking a nondegenerate donor star at the time of explosion are unlikely.

WiFeS observations of nearby southern Type Ia supernova host galaxies

Abstract We present high-resolution observations of nearby ( $z\lesssim0.1$ ) galaxies that have hosted Type Ia supernovae to measure systemic spectroscopic redshifts using the wide field spectrograph (WiFeS) instrument on the Australian National University 2.3 m telescope at Siding Spring Observatory. While most of the galaxies targeted have previous spectroscopic redshifts, we provide demonstrably more accurate and precise redshifts with competitive uncertainties, motivated by potential systematic errors that could bias estimates of the Hubble constant ( $H_0$ ). The WiFeS instrument is remarkably stable; after calibration, the wavelength solution varies by $\lesssim$ 0.5 Å in red and blue with no evidence of a trend over the course of several years. By virtue of the $25\times 38$ arcsec field of view, we are always able to measure the redshift of the galactic core, or the entire galaxy in the cases where its angular extent is smaller than the field of view, reducing any errors due to galaxy rotation. We observed 185 southern SN Ia host galaxies and measured the redshift of each via at least one spatial region of (a) the core and (b) the average over the full-field/entire galaxy. Overall, we find stochastic differences between historical redshifts and our measured redshifts on the order of $\lesssim10^{-3}$ with a mean offset of 4.3 ${\times 10^{-5}}$ and normalised median absolute deviation of 1.2 ${\times 10^{-4}}$ . We show that a systematic redshift offset at this level is not enough to bias cosmology, as $H_0$ shifts by $+0.1$ km s $^{-1}$ Mpc $^{-1}$ when we replace Pantheon+ redshifts with our own, but the occasional large differences are interesting to note.

A comparative analysis of type Ia supernovae 2018xx and 2019gbx

We present a comparative study of two nearby type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia), 2018xx and 2019gbx, that exploded in NGC 4767 and MCG-02-33-017 at a distance of 48 Mpc and 60 Mpc, respectively. The B-band light curve decline rate for SN 2018xx is estimated to be 1.48 ± 0.07 mag and for SN 2019gbx it is 1.37 ± 0.07 mag. Despite the similarities in photometric evolution, quasi-bolometric luminosity, and spectroscopy between these two SNe Ia, SN 2018xx has been found to be fainter by about ∼0.38 mag in the B-band and has a lower 56Ni yield. Their host galaxies have similar metallicities at the SN location, indicating that the differences between these two SNe Ia may be associated with the higher progenitor metallicity of SN 2018xx. Further inspection of the near-maximum-light spectra has revealed that SN 2018xx has relatively strong absorption features near 4300 Å relative to SN 2019gbx. The application of the code TARDIS fitting to the above features indicates that the absorption features near 4300 Å appear to be related to not only Fe II/Mg II abundance but possibly to the other element abundances as well. Moreover, SN 2018xx shows a weaker carbon absorption at earlier times, which is also consistent with higher ejecta metallicity.

SN 2021fxy: mid-ultraviolet flux suppression is a common feature of Type Ia supernovae

ABSTRACT We present ultraviolet (UV) to near-infrared (NIR) observations and analysis of the nearby Type Ia supernova SN 2021fxy. Our observations include UV photometry from Swift/UVOT, UV spectroscopy from HST/STIS, and high-cadence optical photometry with the Swope 1-m telescope capturing intranight rises during the early light curve. Early B − V colours show SN 2021fxy is the first ‘shallow-silicon’ (SS) SN Ia to follow a red-to-blue evolution, compared to other SS objects which show blue colours from the earliest observations. Comparisons to other spectroscopically normal SNe Ia with HST UV spectra reveal SN 2021fxy is one of several SNe Ia with flux suppression in the mid-UV. These SNe also show blueshifted mid-UV spectral features and strong high-velocity Ca ii features. One possible origin of this mid-UV suppression is the increased effective opacity in the UV due to increased line blanketing from high velocity material, but differences in the explosion mechanism cannot be ruled out. Among SNe Ia with mid-UV suppression, SNe 2021fxy and 2017erp show substantial similarities in their optical properties despite belonging to different Branch subgroups, and UV flux differences of the same order as those found between SNe 2011fe and 2011by. Differential comparisons to multiple sets of synthetic SN Ia UV spectra reveal this UV flux difference likely originates from a luminosity difference between SNe 2021fxy and 2017erp, and not differing progenitor metallicities as suggested for SNe 2011by and 2011fe. These comparisons illustrate the complicated nature of UV spectral formation, and the need for more UV spectra to determine the physical source of SNe Ia UV diversity.

Cosmological-model-independent Determination of Hubble Constant from Fast Radio Bursts and Hubble Parameter Measurements

We establish a cosmological-model-independent method to determine the Hubble constant H 0 from the localized fast radio bursts (FRBs) and the Hubble parameter measurements from cosmic chronometers and obtain a first such determination H 0 = 71 ± 3 km s−1 Mpc−1, with an uncertainty of 4%, from the eighteen localized FRBs and nineteen Hubble parameter measurements in the redshift range 0 < z ≤ 0.66. This value, which is independent of the cosmological model, is consistent with the results from the nearby Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) data calibrated by Cepheids and the Planck cosmic microwave background radiation observations at the 1σ and 2σ confidence level, respectively. Simulations show that the uncertainty of H 0 can be decreased to the level of that from the nearby SNe Ia when mock data from 500 localized FRBs with 50 Hubble parameter measurements in the redshift range of 0 < z ≤ 1 are used. Since localized FRBs are expected to be detected in large quantities, our method will be able to give a reliable and more precise determination of H 0 in the very near future, which will help us to figure out the possible origin of the Hubble constant disagreement.

A JWST Near- and Mid-infrared Nebular Spectrum of the Type Ia Supernova 2021aefx

We present JWST near-infrared (NIR) and mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopic observations of the nearby normal Type Ia supernova (SN) SN 2021aefx in the nebular phase at +255 days past maximum light. Our Near Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) and Mid Infrared Instrument observations, combined with ground-based optical data from the South African Large Telescope, constitute the first complete optical+NIR+MIR nebular SN Ia spectrum covering 0.3–14 μm. This spectrum unveils the previously unobserved 2.5−5 μm region, revealing strong nebular iron and stable nickel emission, indicative of high-density burning that can constrain the progenitor mass. The data show a significant improvement in sensitivity and resolution compared to previous Spitzer MIR data. We identify numerous NIR and MIR nebular emission lines from iron-group elements as well as lines from the intermediate-mass element argon. The argon lines extend to higher velocities than the iron-group elements, suggesting stratified ejecta that are a hallmark of delayed-detonation or double-detonation SN Ia models. We present fits to simple geometric line profiles to features beyond 1.2 μm and find that most lines are consistent with Gaussian or spherical emission distributions, while the [Ar iii] 8.99 μm line has a distinctively flat-topped profile indicating a thick spherical shell of emission. Using our line profile fits, we investigate the emissivity structure of SN 2021aefx and measure kinematic properties. Continued observations of SN 2021aefx and other SNe Ia with JWST will be transformative to the study of SN Ia composition, ionization structure, density, and temperature, and will provide important constraints on SN Ia progenitor and explosion models.

SN 2019ein: a Type Ia supernova likely originated from a sub-Chandrasekhar-mass explosion

ABSTRACT We present extensive optical photometric and spectroscopic observations for the nearby Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) 2019ein, spanning the phases from ∼3 to ∼330 d after the explosion. This SN Ia is characterized by extremely fast expansion at early times, with initial velocities of Si ii and Ca ii being above ∼25 000–30 000 km s−1. After experiencing an unusually rapid velocity decay, the ejecta velocity dropped to ∼13 000 km s−1 around maximum light. Photometrically, SN 2019ein has a moderate post-peak decline rate (Δm15(B) = 1.35 ± 0.01 mag), while being fainter than normal SNe Ia by about 40 per cent (with $M^{\rm max}_{B} \approx -18.71 \pm 0.15$ mag). The nickel mass synthesized in the explosion is estimated to be 0.27–0.31 M⊙ from the bolometric light curve. Given such a low nickel mass and a relatively high photospheric velocity, we propose that SN 2019ein likely had a sub-Chandrasekhar-mass white dwarf (WD) progenitor, MWD ≲ 1.22 M⊙. In this case, the explosion could have been triggered by a double-detonation mechanism, for which 1D and 2D models with WD mass MWD ≈ 1 M⊙ and a helium shell of 0.01 M⊙ can reasonably produce the observed bolometric light curve and spectra. The predicted asymmetry as a result of double detonation is also favoured by the redshifted Fe ii and Ni ii lines observed in the nebular-phase spectrum. Possible diversity in origin of high velocity SNe Ia is also discussed.

The Pantheon+ Analysis: Evaluating Peculiar Velocity Corrections in Cosmological Analyses with Nearby Type Ia Supernovae

Separating the components of redshift due to expansion and peculiar motion in the nearby universe (z < 0.1) is critical for using Type Ia Supernovae (SNe Ia) to measure the Hubble constant (H 0) and the equation-of-state parameter of dark energy (w). Here, we study the two dominant “motions” contributing to nearby peculiar velocities: large-scale, coherent-flow (CF) motions and small-scale motions due to gravitationally associated galaxies deemed to be in a galaxy group. We use a set of 584 low-z SNe from the Pantheon+ sample, and evaluate the efficacy of corrections to these motions by measuring the improvement of SN distance residuals. We study multiple methods for modeling the large and small-scale motions and show that, while group assignments and CF corrections individually contribute to small improvements in Hubble residual scatter, the greatest improvement comes from the combination of the two (relative standard deviation of the Hubble residuals, Rel. SD, improves from 0.167 to 0.157 mag). We find the optimal flow corrections derived from various local density maps significantly reduce Hubble residuals while raising H 0 by ∼0.4 km s−1 Mpc−1 as compared to using CMB redshifts, disfavoring the hypothesis that unrecognized local structure could resolve the Hubble tension. We estimate that the systematic uncertainties in cosmological parameters after optimally correcting redshifts are 0.06–0.11 km s−1 Mpc−1 in H 0 and 0.02–0.03 in w which are smaller than the statistical uncertainties for these measurements: 1.5 km s−1 Mpc−1 for H 0 and 0.04 for w.

Optical Observations of the Nearby Type Ia Supernova 2021hpr

We present the optical photometric and spectroscopic observations of the nearby Type Ia supernova (SN) 2021hpr. The observations covered the phase of −14.37 to +63.68 days relative to its maximum luminosity in the B band. The evolution of multiband light/color curves of SN 2021hpr is similar to that of normal Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) with the exception of some phases, especially a plateau phase that appeared in the V − R color curve before peak luminosity, which resembles that of SN 2017cbv. The first spectrum we observed at t ∼ −14.4 days shows a higher velocity for the Si ii λ6355 feature (∼21,000 km s−1) than that of other normal velocity (NV) SNe Ia at the same phase. Based on the Si ii λ6355 velocity of ∼12,420 km s−1 around maximum light, we deduce that SN 2021hpr is a transitional object between high velocity (HV) and NV SNe Ia. Meanwhile, the Si ii λ6355 feature shows a high velocity gradient (HVG) of about 800 km s−1 day−1 from roughly −14.37 to −4.31 days relative to the B-band maximum, which indicates that SN 2021hpr can also be classified as an HVG SN Ia. Despite SN 2021hpr having a higher velocity for the Si ii λ6355 and Ca ii near-IR (NIR) triplet features in its spectra, its evolution is similar to that of SN 2011fe. Including SN 2021hpr, there have been six supernovae observed in the host galaxy NGC 3147; the supernovae explosion rate in the last 50 yr is slightly higher for SNe Ia, while for SNe Ibc and SNe II it is lower than expected rate from the radio data. Inspecting the spectra, we find that SN 2021hpr has a metal-rich (12 + log(O/H) ≈ 8.648) circumstellar environment, where HV SNe tend to reside. Based on the decline rate of SN 2021hpr in the B band, we determine the distance modulus of the host galaxy NGC 3147 using the Phillips relation to be 33.46 ± 0.21 mag, which is close to that found by previous works.

Comparisons of Type Ia Supernova Light Curves in the UV and Optical with the Swift Ultra-violet/Optical Telescope

We examine the light-curve parameters of 97 nearby Type Ia supernovae (SN Ia) in the ultraviolet and optical using observations from the Swift Ultra-violet/Optical Telescope. Our light-curve models used linear combinations of templates, which were based on functional principal component analysis of the optical photometry of SN Ia. The weights for each principal component used in the fit capture certain aspects of the light-curve properties. We find that there is little difference in the overall variability of principal component scores across filters. We also find correlations between certain filters and PC components, indicating that the UV and optical properties seem to be tied together. This is a promising step in UV SN Ia analysis and suggests that UV light curves may be used to infer optical properties, paving the way for future cosmological studies.

A Rapid Ionization Change in the Nebular-phase Spectra of the Type Ia SN 2011fe

Abstract We present three new spectra of the nearby Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) 2011fe covering ≈480–850 days after maximum light and show that the ejecta undergoes a rapid ionization shift at ∼500 days after explosion. The prominent Fe iii emission lines at ≈4600 Å are replaced with Fe i+Fe ii blends at ∼4400 Å and ∼5400 Å. The ≈7300 Å feature, which is produced by [Fe ii]+[Ni ii] at ≲400 days after explosion, is replaced by broad (≈±15,000 km s−1) symmetric [Ca ii] emission. Models predict this ionization transition occurring ∼100 days later than what is observed, which we attribute to clumping in the ejecta. Finally, we use the nebular-phase spectra to test several proposed progenitor scenarios for SN 2011fe. Nondetections of H and He exclude nearby nondegenerate companions, [O i] nondetections disfavor the violent merger of two white dwarfs, and the symmetric emission-line profiles favor a symmetric explosion.

Axion-like Particles from Nearby Type Ia Supernovae

Axion-like particles (ALPs) are a class of hypothetical pseudo-scalar particles and can be created in hot astrophysical plasma through the interaction between photons. I calculate the production of ALPs in type Ia supernovae. It is found that many ALPs lighter than a few MeV can be produced in type Ia supernovae. Once produced, heavy ALPs decay into photons during propagation in the interstellar space. I calculate the flux of the decay photons and find that it may be detected by future MeV γ-ray telescopes if a type Ia supernova explodes near the Solar System.

Circumstellar Medium Constraints on the Environment of Two Nearby Type Ia Supernovae: SN 2017cbv and SN 2020nlb

Abstract We present deep Chandra X-ray observations of two nearby Type Ia supernovae, SN 2017cbv and SN 2020nlb, which reveal no X-ray emission down to a luminosity L X ≲ 5.3 × 1037 and ≲ 5.4 × 1037 erg s−1 (0.3–10 keV), respectively, at ∼16–18 days after the explosion. With these limits, we constrain the pre-explosion mass-loss rate of the progenitor system to be M ̇ &lt; 7.2 × 10−9 and &lt; 9.7 × 10−9 M ⊙ yr−1 for each (at a wind velocity v w = 100 km s−1 and a radius of R ≈ 1016 cm), assuming any X-ray emission would originate from inverse Compton emission from optical photons upscattered by the supernova shock. If the supernova environment was a constant-density medium, we would find a number density limit of n CSM &lt; 36 and &lt; 65 cm−3, respectively. These X-ray limits rule out all plausible symbiotic progenitor systems, as well as large swathes of parameter space associated with the single degenerate scenario, such as mass loss at the outer Lagrange point and accretion winds. We also present late-time optical spectroscopy of SN 2020nlb, and set strong limits on any swept up hydrogen (L Hα &lt; 2.7 × 1037 erg s−1) and helium (L He,λ6678 &lt; 2.7 × 1037 erg s−1) from a nondegenerate companion, corresponding to M H ≲ 0.7–2 × 10−3 M ⊙ and M He ≲ 4 × 10−3 M ⊙. Radio observations of SN 2020nlb at 14.6 days after explosion also yield a non-detection, ruling out most plausible symbiotic progenitor systems. While we have doubled the sample of normal Type Ia supernovae with deep X-ray limits, more observations are needed to sample the full range of luminosities and subtypes of these explosions, and set statistical constraints on their circumbinary environments.

Heavy axion-like particles and MeV decay photons from nearby type Ia supernovae

Abstract Axion-like particles (ALPs) are hypothetical bosons which may couple with photons. Since many ALPs can be emitted from hot and dense astrophysical plasma, nearby supernovae (SNe) are a possible probe into their properties, including the ALP mass ma and the coupling constant gaγ between ALPs and photons. I calculate the ALP emission from a type Ia SN (SN Ia) model with near-Chandrasekhar mass, finding that ALP luminosities from SNe Ia reach ∼1043(gaγ/10−10 GeV−1)2 erg s−1 if ma ≲ 1 MeV. Heavy ALPs emitted from SNe are unstable and decay into photons. I predict the time delay and the flux of decay photons that reach Earth from a nearby SN Ia, finding that the decay photons may provide a constraint on gaγ which is as stringent as the SN 1987A limit if an SN Ia is located 1 kpc away or closer and next-generation MeV γ-ray satellites observe it ∼1–10 yr after the explosion.

SN 2017hpa: A Nearby Carbon-rich Type Ia Supernova with a Large Velocity Gradient

Abstract We present extensive, well-sampled optical and ultraviolet photometry and optical spectra of the Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) 2017hpa. The light curves indicate that SN 2017hpa is a normal SN Ia with an absolute peak magnitude of −19.12 ± 0.11 mag and a postpeak decline rate Δm 15(B) = 1.02 ± 0.07 mag. According to the quasi-bolometric light curve, we derive a peak luminosity of 1.25 × 1043 erg s−1 and a 56Ni mass of 0.63 ± 0.02 M ⊙. The spectral evolution of SN 2017hpa is similar to that of normal Ia supernovae (SNe Ia), while it exhibits an unusually rapid velocity evolution resembling that of SN 1991bg-like SNe Ia or the high-velocity subclass of SNe Ia, with a postpeak velocity gradient of ∼130 ± 7 km s−1 day−1. Moreover, its early spectra (t &lt; − 7.9 days) show a prominent C ii λ6580 absorption feature, which disappeared in near-maximum-light spectra but reemerged at phases from t ∼ + 8.7 days to t ∼ + 11.7 days after maximum light. This implies that some unburned carbon may mix deep into the inner layer and is supported by the low C ii λ6580-to-Si ii λ6355 velocity ratio (∼0.81) observed in SN 2017hpa. The O i λ7774 line shows a velocity distribution like that of carbon. The prominent carbon feature, the low velocity seen in carbon and oxygen, and the large velocity gradient make SN 2017hpa stand out from other normal SNe Ia and are more consistent with predictions from a violent merger of two white dwarfs. Detailed modeling is still needed to reveal the nature of SN 2017hpa.

Intrinsic color diversity of nearby Type Ia supernovae

Abstract It has been reported that the extinction law for Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) may be different from the one in the Milky Way, but the intrinsic color of SNe Ia and the dust extinction are observationally mixed. In this study, we examine photometric properties of SNe Ia in the nearby universe (z ≲ 0.04) to investigate the SN Ia intrinsic color and the dust extinction. We focus on the Branch spectroscopic classification of 34 SNe Ia and morphological types of host galaxies. We carefully study the distribution of their peak colors on the B − V, V − R color–color diagram, as well as the color excess and absolute magnitude deviation from the stretch-color relation of the bluest SNe Ia. We find that SNe Ia which show the reddest color occur in early-type spirals and the trend holds when divided into Branch sub-types. The dust extinction becomes close to the Milky Way like extinction if we exclude some peculiar red Broad Line (BL) sub-type SNe Ia. Furthermore, two of these red BLs occur in elliptical galaxies, a less-dusty environment, suggesting intrinsic color diversity in BL sub-type SNe Ia.

Thirty Years of Radio Observations of Type Ia SN 1972E and SN 1895B: Constraints on Circumstellar Shells

Abstract We have imaged 35 yr of archival Very Large Array observations of the nearby (d L = 3.15 Mpc) Type Ia supernovae SN 1972E and SN 1895B between 9 and 121 yr post-explosion. No radio emission is detected, constraining their radio luminosities to be L ν,8.5GHz &lt; 6.0 × 1023 erg s−1 Hz−1 45 yr post-explosion and L ν,8.5GHz &lt; 8.9 × 1023 erg s−1 Hz−1 121 yr post-explosion, respectively. These limits imply a clean circumstellar medium (CSM), with n &lt; 0.9 cm−3 out to radii of a few ×1018 cm, if the SN blast wave is expanding into uniform density material. We also constrain the presence of CSM shells surrounding the progenitor of SN 1972E. We rule out essentially all medium and thick shells with masses of 0.05–0.3 M ⊙ at radii between ∼1017 and 1018 cm, and thin shells at specific radii with masses down to ≲0.01 M ⊙. These constraints rule out swaths of parameter space single and double degenerate progenitor scenarios, including recurrent nova, core-degenerate objects, ultra-prompt explosions, and white dwarf (WD) mergers with delays of a few hundred years between the onset of merger and explosion. Allowed progenitors include WD–WD systems with a significant (&gt;104 yr) delay from the last episode of common envelope evolution and single degenerate systems undergoing recurrent nova—provided that the system has been in the nova phase for ≳104 yr, such that a large (&gt;1018 cm) cavity has been evacuated. Future multi-epoch observations of additional intermediate-aged SNe Ia will provide a comprehensive view of the large-scale CSM around these explosions.