The Palomar Transient Factory Core-collapse Supernova Host-galaxy Sample. I. Host-galaxy Distribution Functions and Environment Dependence of Core-collapse Supernovae

Steve Schulze, Ofer Yaron, Jesper Sollerman, Giorgos Leloudas, Amit Gal, Angus H. Wright, Ragnhild Lunnan, Avishay Gal-Yam, Eran O. Ofek, Daniel A. Perley, Alexei V. Filippenko, Mansi M. Kasliwal, Shrinivas R. Kulkarni, James D. Neill, Peter E. Nugent, Robert M. Quimby, Mark Sullivan, Nora Linn Strotjohann, Iair Arcavi, Sagi Ben-AmiFederica Bianco, Joshua S. Bloom, Kishalay De, Morgan Fraser, Christoffer U. Fremling, Assaf Horesh, Joel Johansson, Patrick L. Kelly, Nikola Knežević, Sladjana Knežević, Kate Maguire, Anders Nyholm, Seméli Papadogiannakis, Tanja Petrushevska, Adam Rubin, Lin Yan, Yi Yang, Scott M. Adams, Filomena Bufano, Kelsey I. Clubb, Ryan J. Foley, Yoav Green, Jussi Harmanen, Anna Y.Q. Ho, Isobel M. Hook, Griffin Hosseinzadeh, D. Andrew Howell, Albert K.H. Kong, Rubina Kotak, Thomas Matheson, Curtis McCully, Dan Milisavljevic, Yen Chen Pan, Dovi Poznanski, Isaac Shivvers, Sjoert Van Velzen, Kars K. Verbeek

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Several thousand core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe) of different flavors have been discovered so far. However, identifying their progenitors has remained an outstanding open question in astrophysics. Studies of SN host galaxies have proven to be powerful in providing constraints on the progenitor populations. In this paper, we present all CCSNe detected between 2009 and 2017 by the Palomar Transient Factory. This sample includes 888 SNe of 12 distinct classes out to redshift z ≈ 1. We present the photometric properties of their host galaxies from the far-ultraviolet to the mid-infrared and model the host-galaxy spectral energy distributions to derive physical properties. The galaxy mass function of Type Ic, Ib, IIb, II, and IIn SNe ranges from 105 to 1011.5 M o˙, probing the entire mass range of star-forming galaxies down to the least-massive star-forming galaxies known. Moreover, the galaxy mass distributions are consistent with models of star-formation-weighted mass functions. Regular CCSNe are hence direct tracers of star formation. Small but notable differences exist between some of the SN classes. Type Ib/c SNe prefer galaxies with slightly higher masses (i.e., higher metallicities) and star formation rates than Type IIb and II SNe. These differences are less pronounced than previously thought. H-poor superluminous supernovae (SLSNe) and SNe Ic-BL are scarce in galaxies above 1010 M o˙. Their progenitors require environments with metallicities of < 0.4 and < 1 solar, respectively. In addition, the hosts of H-poor SLSNe are dominated by a younger stellar population than all other classes of CCSNe. Our findings corroborate the notion that low metallicity and young age play an important role in the formation of SLSN progenitors.

Original languageEnglish
Article number29
Number of pages35
JournalAstrophysical Journal, Supplement Series
Volume255
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 10 Aug 2021

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The Palomar Transient Factory Core-collapse Supernova Host-galaxy Sample. I. Host-galaxy Distribution Functions and Environment Dependence of Core-collapse Supernovae'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this