A transient radio source consistent with a merger-triggered core collapse supernova
Kulkarni, S. R.; Hallinan, G.; Horesh, A.; Mooley, K. P.; Kasliwal, M. M.; Hughes, A. K.; Myers, S. T.; Hotokezaka, K.; De, K.; Nakar, E.; Ho, A. Y. Q.; Ravi, V.; Dong, D. Z.
United States, Israel, Canada, Japan
Abstract
A core collapse supernova occurs when exothermic fusion ceases in the core of a massive star, which is typically caused by exhaustion of nuclear fuel. Theory predicts that fusion could be interrupted earlier by merging of the star with a compact binary companion. We report a luminous radio transient, VT J121001+495647, found in the Very Large Array Sky Survey. The radio emission is consistent with supernova ejecta colliding with a dense shell of material, potentially ejected by binary interaction in the centuries before explosion. We associate the supernova with an archival x-ray transient, which implies that a relativistic jet was launched during the explosion. The combination of an early relativistic jet and late-time dense interaction is consistent with expectations for a merger-driven explosion.