PTF 10bzf (SN 2010ah): A Broad-line Ic Supernova Discovered by the Palomar Transient Factory
Cenko, S. B.; Mitrofanov, I.; Bloom, J. S.; Frail, D. A.; Gal-Yam, A.; Hurley, K.; Kulkarni, S. R.; Yamaoka, K.; Sullivan, M.; Howell, D. A.; Nugent, P.; Rau, A.; Kasliwal, M. M.; Corsi, A.; Pal'shin, V.; Mazzali, P. A.; Arcavi, I.; Ofek, E. O.; Goldsten, J.; Connaughton, V.; Boynton, W.; Cummings, J.; Law, N. M.; Poznanski, D.; Xu, D.; Quimby, R. M.; Green, Y.; Murray, D.; Ben-ami, S.
United States, Israel, Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, Canada, Russia, Japan
Abstract
We present the discovery and follow-up observations of a broad-line Type Ic supernova (SN), PTF 10bzf (SN 2010ah), detected by the Palomar Transient Factory (PTF) on 2010 February 23. The SN distance is cong218 Mpc, greater than GRB 980425/SN 1998bw and GRB 060218/SN 2006aj, but smaller than the other SNe firmly associated with gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). We conducted a multi-wavelength follow-up campaign with Palomar 48 inch, Palomar 60 inch, Gemini-N, Keck, Wise, Swift, the Allen Telescope Array, Combined Array for Research in Millimeter-wave Astronomy, Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope, and Expanded Very Large Array. Here we compare the properties of PTF 10bzf with those of SN 1998bw and other broad-line SNe. The optical luminosity and spectral properties of PTF 10bzf suggest that this SN is intermediate, in kinetic energy and amount of 56Ni, between non-GRB-associated SNe like 2002ap or 1997ef, and GRB-associated SNe like 1998bw. No X-ray or radio counterpart to PTF 10bzf was detected. X-ray upper limits allow us to exclude the presence of an underlying X-ray afterglow as luminous as that of other SN-associated GRBs such as GRB 030329 or GRB 031203. Early-time radio upper limits do not show evidence for mildly relativistic ejecta. Late-time radio upper limits rule out the presence of an underlying off-axis GRB, with energy and wind density similar to the SN-associated GRB 030329 and GRB 031203. Finally, by performing a search for a GRB in the time window and at the position of PTF 10bzf, we find that no GRB in the interplanetary network catalog could be associated with this SN.