The Progenitor and Early Evolution of the Type IIb SN 2016gkg

Abstract

We report initial observations and analysis on the Type IIb SN 2016gkg in the nearby galaxy NGC 613. SN. 2016gkg exhibited a clear double-peaked light curve during its early evolution, as evidenced by our intensive photometric follow-up campaign. SN. 2016gkg shows strong similarities with other Type IIb SNe, in particular, with respect to the He I. emission features observed in both the optical and near-infrared. SN. 2016gkg evolved faster than the prototypical Type. IIb SN. 1993J, with a decline similar to that of SN. 2011dh after the first peak. The analysis of archival Hubble Space Telescope images indicate a pre-explosion source at SN. 2016gkg's position, suggesting a progenitor star with a similar to mid-F spectral type and initial mass 15-20 M-circle dot, depending on the distance modulus adopted for NGC. 613. Modeling the temperature evolution within 5 days of explosion, we obtain a progenitor radius of similar to 48-124 R-circle dot, smaller than that obtained from the analysis of the pre-explosion images (240-320 R-circle dot).