Hydrogen-poor Superluminous Supernovae with Bumpy Light Curves Powered by Precessing Magnetars

Recent observations and statistical studies have revealed that a significant fraction of hydrogen-poor superluminous supernovae (SLSNe-I) exhibit light curves that deviate from the smooth evolution predicted by the magnetar-powered model, instead showing one or more bumps after the primary peak. How...

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Main Authors: Biao Zhang, Long Li, Zi-Gao Dai, Shu-Qing Zhong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IOP Publishing 2025-01-01
Series:The Astrophysical Journal
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adceb3
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author Biao Zhang
Long Li
Zi-Gao Dai
Shu-Qing Zhong
author_facet Biao Zhang
Long Li
Zi-Gao Dai
Shu-Qing Zhong
author_sort Biao Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Recent observations and statistical studies have revealed that a significant fraction of hydrogen-poor superluminous supernovae (SLSNe-I) exhibit light curves that deviate from the smooth evolution predicted by the magnetar-powered model, instead showing one or more bumps after the primary peak. However, the formation mechanisms of these postpeak bumps remain a matter of debate. Furthermore, previous studies employing the magnetar-powered model have typically assumed a fixed magnetic inclination angle and neglected the effects of magnetar precession. However, recent research has shown that the precession of newborn magnetars forming during the collapse of massive stars causes the magnetic inclination angle to evolve over time, thereby influencing magnetic dipole radiation. In this paper, therefore, we incorporate the effects of magnetar precession into the magnetar-powered model to develop the precessing magnetar-powered model. Using this model, we successfully reproduce the multiband light curves of six selected representative SLSNe-I with postpeak bumps. Moreover, the derived model parameters fall within the typical parameter range for SLSNe-I. By combining the precessing magnetars in SLSNe-I and long gamma-ray bursts, we find that the ellipticity of magnetars is related to the dipole magnetic field strength, which may suggest a common origin for the two phenomena. Our work provides a potential explanation for the origin of postpeak bumps in SLSNe-I and offers evidence for the early precession of newborn magnetars formed in supernova explosions.
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spelling doaj-art-edf9397bdc4f4800871bba82d240ed8d2025-08-20T02:26:15ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal1538-43572025-01-01985217210.3847/1538-4357/adceb3Hydrogen-poor Superluminous Supernovae with Bumpy Light Curves Powered by Precessing MagnetarsBiao Zhang0https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0930-1830Long Li1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8391-5980Zi-Gao Dai2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7835-8585Shu-Qing Zhong3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1766-6947Department of Astronomy, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230026, People’s Republic of China ; daizg@ustc.edu.cn; School of Astronomy and Space Science, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230026, People’s Republic of ChinaDepartment of Physics, School of Physics and Materials Science, Nanchang University , Nanchang 330031, People’s Republic of ChinaDepartment of Astronomy, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230026, People’s Republic of China ; daizg@ustc.edu.cn; School of Astronomy and Space Science, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230026, People’s Republic of ChinaDepartment of Astronomy, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230026, People’s Republic of China ; daizg@ustc.edu.cn; School of Astronomy and Space Science, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230026, People’s Republic of China; School of Science, Guangxi University of Science and Technology , Liuzhou 545006, People’s Republic of ChinaRecent observations and statistical studies have revealed that a significant fraction of hydrogen-poor superluminous supernovae (SLSNe-I) exhibit light curves that deviate from the smooth evolution predicted by the magnetar-powered model, instead showing one or more bumps after the primary peak. However, the formation mechanisms of these postpeak bumps remain a matter of debate. Furthermore, previous studies employing the magnetar-powered model have typically assumed a fixed magnetic inclination angle and neglected the effects of magnetar precession. However, recent research has shown that the precession of newborn magnetars forming during the collapse of massive stars causes the magnetic inclination angle to evolve over time, thereby influencing magnetic dipole radiation. In this paper, therefore, we incorporate the effects of magnetar precession into the magnetar-powered model to develop the precessing magnetar-powered model. Using this model, we successfully reproduce the multiband light curves of six selected representative SLSNe-I with postpeak bumps. Moreover, the derived model parameters fall within the typical parameter range for SLSNe-I. By combining the precessing magnetars in SLSNe-I and long gamma-ray bursts, we find that the ellipticity of magnetars is related to the dipole magnetic field strength, which may suggest a common origin for the two phenomena. Our work provides a potential explanation for the origin of postpeak bumps in SLSNe-I and offers evidence for the early precession of newborn magnetars formed in supernova explosions.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adceb3SupernovaeMagnetarsLight curves
spellingShingle Biao Zhang
Long Li
Zi-Gao Dai
Shu-Qing Zhong
Hydrogen-poor Superluminous Supernovae with Bumpy Light Curves Powered by Precessing Magnetars
The Astrophysical Journal
Supernovae
Magnetars
Light curves
title Hydrogen-poor Superluminous Supernovae with Bumpy Light Curves Powered by Precessing Magnetars
title_full Hydrogen-poor Superluminous Supernovae with Bumpy Light Curves Powered by Precessing Magnetars
title_fullStr Hydrogen-poor Superluminous Supernovae with Bumpy Light Curves Powered by Precessing Magnetars
title_full_unstemmed Hydrogen-poor Superluminous Supernovae with Bumpy Light Curves Powered by Precessing Magnetars
title_short Hydrogen-poor Superluminous Supernovae with Bumpy Light Curves Powered by Precessing Magnetars
title_sort hydrogen poor superluminous supernovae with bumpy light curves powered by precessing magnetars
topic Supernovae
Magnetars
Light curves
url https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adceb3
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