Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: We present JWST/MIRI observations of the Type I superluminous supernova (SLSN) 2017gci obtained over 2000 rest-frame days after the supernova (SN) exploded, which represent the latest phase images taken of any known SLSN to date. We find that archival Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) detections of SN 2017gci taken 70–200 days after explosion are most likely explained by an IR dust echo from a ∼10 −4 M ⊙ shell of preexisting dust, as opposed to freshly formed dust. New JWST observations reveal mid-infrared emission at the position of SN 2017gci; however, the flux level and spatial offset indicate that this emission is most likely dominated by the host galaxy. We therefore derive upper limits from these observations to constrain dust emission at late times. Radiative transfer modeling of carbonaceous dust shows that warm optically thin dust masses up to 0.18 M ⊙ are excluded at the 3 σ confidence level. However, substantially larger dust masses cannot be ruled out if the dust is optically thick. Infrared detections of other SLSNe have suggested that SLSNe may be highly efficient dust producers. While our constraints are insufficient to determine the total dust yield of SN 2017gci, they indicate that any late-time dust emission must either be modest compared to the most dust-rich SNe or arise from dust that is optically thick. A larger sample of deep infrared observations will be required to determine whether SLSNe are significant contributors to cosmic dust production.
Source: The Astrophysical Journal
Institutions: Space Telescope Science Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, Princeton University, Center for Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian, The NSF AI Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Fundamental Interactions, Johns Hopkins University, Virginia Tech, Infrared Processing and Analysis Center, University of Copenhagen, Ghent University, Purdue University West Lafayette, Eötvös Loránd University, University of Szeged, National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $4,499
Funders: National Science Foundation, Smithsonian Institution, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, California Institute of Technology, Villum Fonden, Space Telescope Science Institute, European Space Agency, European Commission, Belgian Federal Science Policy Office, Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, Hungarian Scientific Research Fund, Nemzeti Kutatási Fejlesztési és Innovációs Hivatal, Vlaamse regering, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, National Research, Development and Innovation Office, H2020 European Research Council
Awards: G1528971480, G1700342535, Collaborative Research: Constraining Supernova Progenitor Systems and Explosion Mechanisms Through 3D Reconstruction of Supernova Remnants, NEO DISCOVERY AND CHARACTERIZATION WITH THE PAN-STARRS PS1 TELESCOPE. WE WILL USE THE PAN-STARRS PS1 TELESCOPE SYSTEM TO RAPIDLY SURVEY LARGE AREAS O, The origin of cosmic dust in galaxies, G2897167732, AI Institute: AI Research Institute for Fundamental Interactions, CDS&E: Collaborative Research: Development and Application of Machine Learning Classification of Optical Transients, G3956891716, Calibration of the spatially resolved SFR-[CII] relation in the Early Universe, G434337789, G4446457410, THE POWER OF THE PAN-STARRS1 TELESCOPE TO DISCOVER NEOS HAS BEEN AMPLY DEMONSTRATED WITH THE CURRENT 11% DEDICATED ALLOCATION OF OBSERVING TIME SUPPO, G5771713820, G7265250500, G7321118147, G844997840
OpenAlex ID: W4402705723