The supernova CSS121015:004244+132827: a clue for understanding super-luminous supernovae

Understand

We present optical photometry and spectra of the super luminous type II/IIn supernova CSS121015:004244+132827 (z=0.2868) spanning epochs from -30 days (rest frame) to more than 200 days after maximum.

• CSS121015 is one of the more luminous supernova ever found and one of the best observed.
• The photometric evolution is characterized by a relatively fast rise to maximum (~40 days in the SN rest frame), and by a linear post-maximum decline.
• The light curve shows no sign of a break to an exponential tail.