ASASSN-15lh (aka SN 2015L), a superluminal supernova, or hypernova?

[Astronuc]

My wife was listening to a video about superluminal supernova (Type Ic), ASASSN-15lh, or SN 2015L. It was discovered through the All Sky Automated Survey for SuperNovae (ASAS-SN). The event occurred in a galaxy ~3.82 billion ly from earth. Peak Apparent Magnitude was 16.9. The mass of ASSASN-15lh is 40 M_☉

It was first detected on June 14, 2015, located within a faint galaxy in the southern constellation Indus, and was the most luminous supernova-like object ever observed. At its peak, ASASSN-15lh was 570 billion times brighter than the Sun, and 20 times brighter than the combined light emitted by the Milky Way Galaxy. The emitted energy was exceeded by PS1-10adi

Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASASSN-15lh

The Unexpected, Long-Lasting, UV Rebrightening of the Super-Luminous Supernova ASASSN-15lh
https://arxiv.org/abs/1605.00645

The nature of ASASSN-15lh is disputed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ASASSN-15lh#Suggested_mechanisms

I wondered if the term 'hypernova' describes the event. Apparently it does.

The usage of the term hypernova from the late 20th century has since been refined to refer to those supernovae with unusually large kinetic energy. The first hypernova observed was SN 1998bw, with a luminosity 100 times higher than a standard Type Ib. This supernova was the first to be associated with a gamma-ray burst (GRB) and it produced a shockwave containing an order of magnitude more energy than a normal supernova. Other scientists prefer to call these objects simply broad-lined Type Ic supernovae. Since then the term has been applied to a variety of objects, not all of which meet the standard definition; for example ASASSN-15lh.

Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypernova

ASASSN-15lh was not the 'brightest' event however.

PS1-10adi was an unusual and highly energetic optical transient discovered by the Pan-STARRS survey on 15 August 2010. The explosion or transient event emitted 2.3×10⁵² ergs (2.3×10⁴⁵ Joules), exceeding ASASSN-15lh.

Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PS1-10adi

Pan-STARRS Project is the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System
Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan-STARRS

 

[BillTre]

My wife was listening to a video about superluminal supernova (Type Ic), ASASSN-15lh, or SN 2015L.

Wow. I wish my wife would do stuff like that.