Mapping Circumstellar Matter with Polarized Light: The Case of Supernova 2014J in M82

Abstract

Optical polarimetry is an effective way of probing the environment of a supernova for dust. We acquired linear HST ACS/WFC polarimetry in bands , , and of the supernova (SN) 2014J in M82 at six epochs from ∼277 days to ∼1181 days after the B -band maximum. The polarization measured at day 277 shows conspicuous deviations from other epochs. These differences can be attributed to at least ∼ of circumstellar dust located at a distance of from the SN. The scattering dust grains revealed by these observations seem to be aligned with the dust in the interstellar medium that is responsible for the large reddening toward the supernova. The presence of this circumstellar dust sets strong constraints on the progenitor system that led to the explosion of SN 2014J; however, it cannot discriminate between single- and double-degenerate models.