Radio non-detection of SN 2006gy with the VLA at 8.4 and 43 GHz

ATel #1254; Michael Bietenholz (York University, Canada; Hartebeesthoek Radio Observatory, South Africa), N. Bartel (York University, Canada)
on 1 Nov 2007; 22:04 UT
Credential Certification: Michael Bietenholz (mbieten@yorku.ca)

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The Type IIn supernova 2006gy, among the most luminous supernova ever seen, was observed with the VLA on 21 Sep. and 28 Oct. 2007 at 8.4 and 43 GHz, and not detected with the following 3-sigma upper limits:
2007 Sep 21.5 UT, 8.4 GHz: 0.45 mJy; resolution 0.8",
2007 Sep 21.5 UT, 43 GHz: 3.0 mJy; resolution 0.14",
2007 Oct 28.4 UT, 8.4 GHz: 0.11 mJy; resolution 0.9",
2007 Oct 28.4 UT 43 GHz: 0.38 mJy; resolution 0.17".
Our 8.4-GHz limit on Oct. 28 is lowest limit to date on radio emission from SN 2006gy. Continuum radio emission from the galaxy, NGC 1260, was weakly detected at 8.4 GHz in Oct. The position of the brightness peak, which was 0.13 mJy/bm, is consistent with the position of the galaxy nucleus given by Ofek et al., (2007, ApJ, 659, L13) to within 0.4".

Based on these limits and a distance of 73 Mpc (Ofek et al.) the 8.4-GHz spectral luminosity of SN 2006gy is less than half that of SN 1993J and <10% that of SN 1986J at their respective peaks.