Optical observations of an SN 2002cx-like peculiar supernova SN 2013en in UGC 11369

Abstract

We present optical observations of an SN 2002cx-like supernova SN 2013en in UGC 11369, spanning from a phase near maximum light (t = +1d) to t = +60 d with respect to the Rband maximum. Adopting a distance modulus of μ = 34.11 ± 0.15 mag and a total extinction (host galaxy+Milky Way) of AV ≈ 1.5mag, we found that SN 2013en peaked at MR ≈ -18.6 mag, which is underluminous compared to the normal SNe Ia. The near maximum spectra show lines of Si II, Fe II, Fe III, Cr II, Ca II and other intermediate-mass and iron group elements which all have lower expansion velocities (i.e. ~6000 km s-1). The photometric and spectroscopic evolution of SN 2013en is remarkably similar to those of SN 2002cx and SN 2005hk, suggesting that they are likely to be generated from a similar progenitor scenario or explosion mechanism.