Abstract:
We present optical observations and Monte Carlo radiative transfer modeling of the Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) SN 2011aa. With a Δm15(B) of 0.59 ± 0.07 mag and a peak magnitude MB of −19.30 ± 0.27 mag, SN 2011aa has the slowest decline rate among SNe Ia. The secondary maximum in the I band is absent or as equally bright as the primary maximum. The velocity of C ii is lower than the velocity of Si ii. This indicates either the presence of C at lower velocities than Si or a line-of-sight effect. Application of Arnett's radiation diffusion model to the bolometric light curve indicates a massive ejecta Mej 1.8–2.6 M⊙. The slow decline rate and large ejecta mass, with a normal peak magnitude, are well explained by a double degenerate, violent merger explosion model. The synthetic spectra and light curves generated with SEDONA considering a violent merger density profile match the observations.
