Constraints on Off-Axis Gamma-Ray Burst Jets in Type Ibc Supernovae from Late-Time Radio Observations

Abstract

It has been suggested that the peculiar properties of the luminous Type Ic supernova SN 1998bw and its low-energy gamma-ray burst GRB 980425 may be understood if they originated in a standard gamma-ray burst explosion viewed far from the axis of the relativistic jet. In this scenario, strong radio emission is predicted from the jet on a timescale 1-10 yr after the explosion as it decelerates and spreads into our line of sight. To test this hypothesis, we have carried out late-time radio observations of SN 1998bw at t=5.6 yr, yielding upper limits that are consistent with the continued fading of the supernova. We find these limits to be consistent with an off-axis jet only if the progenitor mass-loss rate is M -7 M solar yr -1 (for a wind velocity v w =1000 km s -1) or the fraction of the shock energy in magnetic fields is ∊ B -3. These values are low relative to those inferred for cosmological gamma-ray bursts. We combine the SN 1998bw measurements with existing observations for a sample of 15 local Type Ibc supernovae to estimate that at most 6% produce collimated, relativistic outflows.