MIRSNAC

The aim of the MidInfared SuperNovA Collaboration (MIRSNAC) is to use the James Webb Space Telescope to understand the physics of supernovae. We have an interest in both Type Ia supernovae and core collapse events. To date we have had six successful proposals, with over 100 hours of JWST time. These projects span across the first three cycles. Below we separate these proposals by supernova type.

Type Ia Supernovae

We have two successful proposal on type Ia Supernova. The Cycle1 program GO-2114 (PI: Ashall) uses MIRI to obtain medium resolution spectra type Ia supernova in the nebular phase. We observed the normal bright SN 2021aefx and the sub-luminous SN 2022xkq. GO-3726 (PI: DerKacy) will use NIRSpec and MIRI to obtain spectra of SN 2021aefx throughout Cycle 2 and 3 until it is 1000 days after explosion.

Type II Supernovae

One of our main interests in studying core collapse supernovae with JWST is to understand how they produce molecules and dust. To do this we study these events from explosion until hundreds of days past the maximum light. The Cycle1 program GO-2122 (PI: Ashall) obtained spectra of the nearby hydrogen rich SN 2022acko with NIRSpec and MIRI throughout the plateau phase, later observations will allow us to search for molecule formation. The Hygrogen rich Supernova 2023ixf exploded in the nearby galaxy M101, and drew much attention from the transient community. MIRSNAC was awarded a DDT, DD-4522 (PI: Ashall), to observe this object in the first 200 days of its evolution.

Stripped Envelope Supernovae

Stripped envelope Supernovae come form some of the most massive stars in the universe, and may be one of the largest producers of early universe cosmic dust. Through program DD-4520 (PI: Shahbandeh) we are following the very nearby SN Ic 2023dbc, where we are searching for molecules in the ejecta. Program GO-4217 (PI: Shahbandeh) is a ToO program which will observe one of the nearest Stripped envelope Supernovae that will explode in 2023/2024.

Papers

A list of paper produced from the MIRSNAC collaboration can be found below:

1. JWST Low-resolution MIRI Spectral Observations of SN 2021aefx: High-density Burning in a Type Ia Supernova, ApJ, 945L, 2D, 2023, DerKacy, J. M. Ashall, C. Hoeflich, P. Baron, E. et al
   
2. JWST MIRI/MRS Observations and Spectral Models of the Under-luminous Type Ia Supernova 2022xkq, arXiv:2310.09153, DerKacy, J. M. Ashall, C. Hoeflich, P. Baron, E. et al
   
3. JWST NIRSpec+MIRI Observations of the nearby Type IIP supernova 2022acko, arXiv:2401.14474, Shahbandeh, M. ; Ashall, C. ; Hoeflich, P. ; Baron, E. et al
   
4. A JWST Medium-resolution MIRI Spectrum and Models of the Type Ia Supernova 2021aefx at +415 days, ApJ 975, 203, Ashall, C., Hoeflich, P., Baron, E., Shahbandeh, M, DerKacy, J. M. et al

MIRSNAC Members

Chris Ashall (University of Hawaii) PI
Eddie Baron (Planetary Space Institute) Co-PI
James DerKacy (Space Telescope Science Institute) Co-PI
Peter Hoeflich (Florida State University ) Co-PI
Melissa Shahbandeh (Space Telescope Science Institute) Co-PI
Lluis Galbany (Insitute of Space Sciences, Barcelona)
Aaron Do (University of Cambridge)
Alec Fisher (Florida State University)
Aleksandar Cikota (European Southern Observatory)
Anthony Burrow (The University of Oklahoma)
Ben Shappee (University of Hawaii at Manoa)
Chris Burns (Carnegie Observatories)
Dietrich Baade (European Southern Observatory)
Emir Karamehmetoglu (Aarhus University)
Eric Hsiao (Florida State University )
Inma Dominguez (University of Granada)
Ori Fox (Space Telescope Science Institute)
Nando Patat (European Southern Observatory)
Jenifer Andrews (Gemini Observatory)
Jing Lu (Michigan State)
Justyn Maund (The University of Sheffield)
Azalee Bostroem (University of Washington)
Kevin Krisciunas (Texas A&M)
Lifan Wang (Texas A&M)
Mark Phillips (Carnegie Observatories)
Max Stritzinger (Aarhus University)
Nicolas Meza Retamal (UC Davis)
Paolo Mazzali (Liverpool John Moores University)
Kyle Medler (University of Hawaii)
Charles Telesco (University of Florida)
Michael Tucker (The Ohio State)
Nick Suntzeff (Texas A&M)
Nidia Morrell (Carnegie Observatories)
Peter Brown (Texas A&M)
Sahana Kumar (UVA)
Sarah Stangl (The University of Oklahoma)
Stefano Valenti (UC Davis)
Thomas de Jaeger (University of Hawaii at Manoa)
Tyco Mera Evans (Florida State University)
Yi Yang (Berkeley)
Yi Dong (UC Davis)