Late-time spectroscopy of SN 2002hh: A continued visible light echo with no shock interaction yet

Abstract

Supernova (SN) 2002hhwas unusual among core-collapse SNe because itwas highly reddened, and displayed a bright infrared (IR) excess due to radiatively heated dust in its circumstellar medium (CSM). Estimates for the mass of dust responsible for the IR echo suggested the presence of a massive shell within 0.26 pc of the star. For a velocity of 5000-10 000 km s-1, this material should be hit by the SN blast wave at late times, starting at roughly 12 years post-explosion. We have obtained deep late-time spectra with the Multiple Mirror Telescope (MMT) Blue Channel spectrograph to search for any spectral signatures of ongoing shock interaction. Interaction with a strength comparable to SN 1987A's collision with the equatorial ring would be detected in our data. However, in the spectra reported here, we do not detect clear signs of strong CSM interaction, contrary to expectations based on the reported radii of the dust shell. We do, however, detect emission associated with the old SN, and we find that the broad lines in the spectrum indicate a continuation of an ongoing reflected light echo, which appears similar to the spectrum at peak luminosity for this Type II-P event.