A puzzle solved after two decades: SN 2002gh among the brightest of superluminous supernovae

We present optical photometry and spectroscopy of the superluminous SN 2002gh from maximum light to +204 d, obtained as part of the Carnegie Type II Supernova (CATS) project. SN 2002gh is among the most luminous discovered supernovae ever, yet it remained unnoticed for nearly two decades. Using Dark Energy Camera archival images we identify the potential supernova (SN) host galaxy as a faint dwarf galaxy, presumably having low metallicity, and in an apparent merging process with other nearby dwarf galaxies. We show that SN 2002gh is among the brightest hydrogen-poor SLSNe with M-V = -22.40 +/- 0.02, with an estimated peak bolometric luminosity of 2.6 +/- 0.1 x 10(44) erg s(-1). We discount the decay of radioactive nickel as the main SN power mechanism, and assuming that the SN is powered by the spin-down of a magnetar we obtain two alternative solutions. The first case, is characterized by significant magnetar power leakage, and M-ej between 0.6 and 3.2 M-circle dot, P-spin = 3.2 ms, and B = 5 x 10(13) G. The second case does not require power leakage, resulting in a huge ejecta mass of about 30 M-circle dot, a fast spin period of P-spin similar to 1 ms, and B similar to 1.6 x 10(14) G. We estimate a zero-age main-sequence mass between 14 and 25 M-circle dot for the first case and of about 135 M-circle dot for the second case. The latter case would place the SN progenitor among the most massive stars observed to explode as an SN.

Automated summary

This study presents the optical photometry and spectroscopy of the superluminous SN 2002gh, revealing it as one of the most luminous supernovae discovered. The host galaxy of the supernova is identified as a faint dwarf galaxy. The study explores the power mechanism of the supernova and proposes two alternative explanations.