Article

Early-Time Photometry and Spectroscopy of the Fast Evolving SN 2006aj Associated with GRB 060218

M. ModjazHarvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138K. Z. StanekDepartment of Astronomy, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210P. M. GarnavichDepartment of Physics, 225 Nieuwland Science Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556P. BerlindSmithsonian Institution, Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory, 670 Mount Hopkins Road, P.O. Box 97, Amado, AZ 85645S. BlondinHarvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138W. BrownHarvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138M. CalkinsSmithsonian Institution, Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory, 670 Mount Hopkins Road, P.O. Box 97, Amado, AZ 85645P. ChallisHarvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138A. M. Diamond-StanicSteward Observatory, University of Arizona, 933 North Cherry Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85721H. HaoHarvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138M. HickenHarvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138R P. KirshnerHarvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138J. L. PrietoDepartment of Astronomy, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210

2006en

ABI

Abstract

We present early photometric and spectroscopic data on the afterglow of GRB 060218 and report the evolution of the underlying supernova SN 2006aj. Our data span a time range of 4–23 days after the GRB and clearly establish that SN 2006aj is a fast-evolving broad-lined Type Ic SN with an extremely short rise time (∼10 days) and a large optical peak luminosity ( mag). The supernova properties are deduced well since the gamma-ray burstM p 18.7V (GRB) afterglow does not contribute a significant amount to the total light output. The spectra show broad lines indicative of large expansion velocities but are better matched by those of SN 2002ap and SN 1997ef (not associated with a GRB) than those of the prototypical GRB-related SN 1998bw. We refine the redshift estimate to zp. The host galaxy is a low-metallicity dwarf galaxy (with mag), similar to host0.03351 0.00007 M p 16.0V, host galaxies of other GRB-associated SNe.

Identifiers

DOI: 10.1086/505906

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