The Carnegie Supernova Project-II (CSP-II) was an NSF-funded, four-year program to obtain optical and near-infrared observations of a "Cosmology" sample of similar to 100 Type. Ia supernovae located in the smooth Hubble flow (0.03 less than or similar to z less than or similar to 0.10). Light curves were also obtained of a "Physics" sample composed of 90 nearby Type. Ia supernovae at z <= 0.04 selected for near-infrared spectroscopic timeseries observations. The primary emphasis of the CSP-II is to use the combination of optical and near-infrared photometry to achieve a distance precision of better than 5%. In this paper, details of the supernova sample, the observational strategy, and the characteristics of the photometric data are provided. In a companion paper, the near-infrared spectroscopy component of the project is presented.

The first phase of the Carnegie Supernova Project (CSP-I) was a dedicated supernova follow-up program based at the Las Campanas Observatory that collected science data of young, low-redshift supernovae between 2004 and 2009. Presented in this paper is the CSP-I photometric data release of low-redshift stripped-envelope core-collapse supernovae. The data consist of optical (uBgVri) photometry of 34 objects, with a subset of 26 having near-infrared (YJH) photometry. Twenty objects have optical pre-maximum coverage with a subset of 12 beginning at least five days prior to the epoch of B-band maximum brightness. In the near-infrared, 17 objects have pre-maximum observations with a subset of 14 beginning at least five days prior to the epoch of J-band maximum brightness. Analysis of this photometric data release is presented in companion papers focusing on techniques to estimate host-galaxy extinction and the light-curve and progenitor star properties of the sample. The analysis of an accompanying visual-wavelength spectroscopy sample of similar to 150 spectra will be the subject of a future paper.

We present an analysis of ultraviolet (UV) to near-infrared observations of the fast-declining Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) 2007on and 2011iv, hosted by the Fornax cluster member NGC 1404. The B-band light curves of SN 2007on and SN 2011iv are characterised by Delta m(15)(B) decline-rate values of 1.96 mag and 1.77 mag, respectively. Although they have similar decline rates, their peak B-and H-band magnitudes di ff er by similar to 0.60 mag and similar to 0.35 mag, respectively. After correcting for the luminosity vs. decline rate and the luminosity vs. colour relations, the peak B-band and H-band light curves provide distances that di ff er by similar to 14% and similar to 9%, respectively. These findings serve as a cautionary tale for the use of transitional SNe Ia located in early-type hosts in the quest to measure cosmological parameters. Interestingly, even though SN 2011iv is brighter and bluer at early times, by three weeks past maximum and extending over several months, its B - V colour is 0.12 mag redder than that of SN 2007on. To reconcile this unusual behaviour, we turn to guidance from a suite of spherical one-dimensional Chandrasekhar-mass delayed-detonation explosion models. In this context, Ni-56 production depends on both the so-called transition density and the central density of the progenitor white dwarf. To first order, the transition density drives the luminosity-width relation, while the central density is an important second-order parameter. Within this context, the di ff erences in the B - V colour evolution along the Lira regime suggest that the progenitor of SN 2011iv had a higher central density than SN 2007on.

Shifting the focus of Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) cosmology to the near infrared (NIR) is a promising way to significantly reduce the systematic errors, as the strategy minimizes our reliance on the empirical width-luminosity relation and uncertain dust laws. Observations in the NIR are also crucial for our understanding of the origins and evolution of these events, further improving their cosmological utility. Any future experiments in the rest-frame NIR will require knowledge of the SN Ia NIR spectroscopic diversity, which is currently based on a small sample of observed spectra. Along with the accompanying paper, Phillips et al., we introduce the Carnegie Supernova Project-II (CSP-II), to follow-up nearby SNe Ia in both the optical and the NIR. In particular, this paper focuses on the CSP-II NIR spectroscopy program, describing the survey strategy, instrumental setups, data reduction, sample characteristics, and future analyses on the data set. In collaboration with the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) Supernova Group, we obtained 661 NIR spectra of 157 SNe Ia. Within this sample, 451 NIR spectra of 90 SNe Ia have corresponding CSP-II follow-up light curves. Such a sample will allow detailed studies of the NIR spectroscopic properties of SNe Ia, providing a different perspective on the properties of the unburned material; the radioactive and stable nickel produced; progenitor magnetic fields; and searches for possible signatures of companion stars.

We present optical photometry and spectroscopy of the Type II supernova ASASSN-14jb, together with Very Large Telescope (VLT) Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) integral field observations of its host galaxy and a nebular-phase spectrum. This supernova, in the nearby galaxy ESO 467-G051 (z = 0.006), was discovered and followed-up by the all-sky automated survey for supernovae (ASAS-SN). We obtained well-sampled las cumbres network (LCOGTN) BVgri and Swift omega 2m1 omega 1ubv optical, near-UV/optical light curves, and several optical spectra in the early photospheric phases. The transient ASASSN-14jb exploded similar to 2 kpc above the star-forming disk of ESO 467-G051, an edge-on disk galaxy. The large projected distance from the disk of the supernova position and the non-detection of any H II region in a 1.4 kpc radius in projection are in conflict with the standard environment of core-collapse supernova progenitors and suggests the possible scenario that the progenitor received a kick in a binary interaction. We present analysis of the optical light curves and spectra, from which we derived a distance of 25 +/- 2 Mpc using state-of-the-art empirical methods for Type II SNe, physical properties of the SN explosion (Ni-56 mass, explosion energy, and ejected mass), and properties of the progenitor; namely the progenitor radius, mass, and metallicity. Our analysis yields a Ni-56 mass of 0.0210 +/- 0.0025 M-circle dot, an explosion energy of approximate to 0.25 x 10(51) ergs, and an ejected mass of approximate to 6 M-circle dot. We also constrained the progenitor radius to be R-* = 580 +/- 28 R-circle dot which seems to be consistent with the sub-Solar metallicity of 0.3 +/- 0.1 Z(circle dot) derived from the supernova Fe II lambda 5018 line. The nebular spectrum constrains strongly the progenitor mass to be in the range 10-12 M-circle dot. From the Spitzer data archive we detect ASASSN-14jb approximate to 330 days past explosion and we derived a total dust mass of 10(-4) M-circle dot from the 3.6 mu m and 4.5 mu m photometry. Using the FUV, NUV, BVgri,K-s, 3.6 mu m, and 4.5 mu m total magnitudes for the host galaxy, we fit stellar population synthesis models, which give an estimate of M-* approximate to 1 x 10(9) M-circle dot, an age of 3.2 Gyr, and a SFR approximate to 0.07 M-circle dot yr(-1). We also discuss the low oxygen abundance of the host galaxy derived from the MUSE data, having an average of 12 + log (O/H) = 8.27(-0.20)(+0.16) using the O3N2 diagnostic with strong line methods. We compared it with the supernova spectra, which is also consistent with a sub-Solar metallicity progenitor. Following recent observations of extraplanar H II regions in nearby edge-on galaxies, we derived the metallicity offset from the disk, being positive, but consistent with zero at 2 sigma, suggesting enrichment from disk outflows. We finally discuss the possible scenarios for the unusual environment for ASASSN-14jb and conclude that either the in-situ star formation or runaway scenario would imply a low-mass progenitor, agreeing with our estimate from the supernova nebular spectrum. Regardless of the true origin of ASASSN-14jb, we show that the detailed study of the environment roughly agree with the stronger constraints from the observation of the transient.

Type II supernovae (SNe II) show strong hydrogen features in their spectra throughout their whole evolution, while type IIb supernovae (SNe IIb spectra evolve from dominant hydrogen lines at early times to increasingly strong helium features later on. However, it is currently unclear whether the progenitors of these SN types form a continuum in pre-SN hydrogen mass or whether they are physically distinct. SN light-curve morphology directly relates to progenitor and explosion properties such as the amount of hydrogen in the envelope, the pre-SN radius, the explosion energy, and the synthesized mass of radioactive material. In this work, we study the morphology of the optical-wavelength light curves of hydrogen-rich SNe it and hydrogen-poor SNe IIb to test whether an observational continuum exists between the two. Using a sample of 95 SNe (73 SNe Ill and 22 SNe Lib), we define a range of key observational parameters and present a comparative analysis between both types. We find a lack of events that bridge the observed properties of SNe II and IIb, Light-curve parameters such as rise times and post-maximum decline rates and curvatures clearly separate both SN types and we therefore conclude that there is 110 continuum, with the two SN types forming two observationally distinct families, In the V band a rise time of 17 d (SNe lower and SNe lib higher), and a magnitude difference between 30 and 40 d post-explosion of 0.4 mag (SNe II and SNe IIb higher) serve as approximate thresholds to differentiate both types.

We present 81 near-infrared (NIR) spectra of 30 Type II supernovae (SNe II) from the Carnegie Supernova Project-II (CSP-II), the largest such data set published to date. We identify a number of NIR features and characterize their evolution over time. The NIR spectroscopic properties of SNe II fall into two distinct groups. This classification is first based on the strength of the He I lambda 1.083 mu m absorption during the plateau phase; SNe II are either significantly above (spectroscopically strong) or below 50 angstrom (spectroscopically weak) in pseudo equivalent width. However, between the two groups other properties, such as the timing of CO formation and the presence of Sr II, are also observed. Most surprisingly, the distinct weak and strong NIR spectroscopic classes correspond to SNe II with slow and fast declining light curves, respectively. These two photometric groups match the modern nomenclature of SNe IIP, which show a long duration plateau, and IIL, which have a linear declining light curve. Including NIR spectra previously published, 18 out of 19 SNe II follow this slow declining-spectroscopically weak and fast declining-spectroscopically strong correspondence. This is in apparent contradiction to the recent findings in the optical that slow and fast decliners show a continuous distribution of properties. The weak SNe II show a high-velocity component of helium that may be caused by a thermal excitation from a reverse shock created by the outer ejecta interacting with the red supergiant wind, but the origin of the observed dichotomy is not understood. Further studies are crucial in determining whether the apparent differences in the NIR are due to distinct physical processes or a gap in the current data set.

We present optical and near-infrared data of three Type II supernovae (SNe II), SN 2008bm, SN 2009aj, and SN 2009au. These SNe display the following common characteristics: signs of early interaction of the ejecta with circumstellar material (CSM), blue B - V colours, weakness of metal lines, low expansion velocities, and V-band absolute magnitudes 2-3 mag brighter than those expected for normal SNe II based on their expansion velocities. Two more SNe reported in the literature (SN 1983K and LSQ13fn) share properties similar to our sample. Analysing this set of five SNe II, which are luminous for their low expansion velocities (LLEV), we find that their properties can be reproduced assuming ejecta-CSM interaction that lasts between 4 and 11 weeks post-explosion. The contribution of this interaction to the radiation field seems to be the dominant component determining the observed weakness of metal lines in the spectra rather than the progenitor metallicity. Based on hydrodynamic simulations, we find that the interaction of the ejecta with a CSM of similar to 3.6 M-circle dot can reproduce the light curves and expansion velocities of SN 2009aj. Using data collected by the Chilean Automatic Supernova Search, we estimate an upper limit for the LLEV SNe II fraction to be 2-4 per cent of all normal SNe II. With the current data set, it is not clear whether the LLEV events are a separated class of SNe II with a different progenitor system, or whether they are the extreme of a continuum mediated by CSM interaction with the rest of the normal SN II population.

We present panchromatic observations and modeling of the Calcium-rich supernova (SN) 2019ehk in the star-forming galaxy M100 (d approximate to 16.2 Mpc) starting 10 hr after explosion and continuing for similar to 300 days. SN 2019ehk shows a double-peaked optical light curve peaking at t = 3 and 15 days. The first peak is coincident with luminous, rapidly decaying Swift-XRT-discovered X-ray emission (L-x approximate to 10(41) erg s(-1) at 3 days; L-x proportional to t(-3)), and a Shane/Kast spectral detection of narrow Ha and He II emission lines (nu approximate to 500 km s(-1)) originating from pre-existent circumstellar material (CSM). We attribute this phenomenology to radiation from shock interaction with extended, dense material surrounding the progenitor star at r < 10(15) cm and the resulting cooling emission. We calculate a total CSM mass of similar to 7 x 10(-3) M-circle dot (M-He/M-H approximate to 6) with particle density n approximate to 10(9) cm(-3). Radio observations indicate a significantly lower density n < 10(4) cm(-3) at larger radii r > (0.1-1) x 10(17) cm. The photometric and spectroscopic properties during the second light-curve peak are consistent with those of Ca-rich transients (rise-time of t(r) = 13.4 +/- 0.210 days and a peak B-band magnitude of M-B = -15.1 +/- 0.200 mag). We find that SN 2019ehk synthesized (3.1 +/- 0.11) x 10(-2) M-circle dot of Ni-56 and ejected M-ej = (0.72 +/- 0.040) M-circle dot total with a kinetic energy E-k = (1.8 +/- 0.10) x 10(50) erg. Finally, deep HST pre-explosion imaging at the SN site constrains the parameter space of viable stellar progenitors to massive stars in the lowest mass bin (similar to 10 M-circle dot) in binaries that lost most of their He envelope or white dwarfs (WDs). The explosion and environment properties of SN 2019ehk further restrict the potential WD progenitor systems to low-mass hybrid HeCO WD+CO WD binaries.

AT 2018hyz (= ASASSN-18zj) is a tidal disruption event (TDE) located in the nucleus of a quiescent E+A galaxy at a redshift of z = 0.04573, first detected by the All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (ASAS-SN). We present optical+UV photometry of the transient, as well as an X-ray spectrum and radio upper limits. The bolometric light curve of AT 2018hyz is comparable to other known TDEs and declines at a rate consistent with a t(-5/3) at early times, emitting a total radiated energy of E = 9 x 10(50) erg. An excess bump appears in the UV light curve about 50 d after bolometric peak, followed by a flattening beyond 250 d. We detect a constant X-ray source present for at least 86 d. The X-ray spectrum shows a total unabsorbed flux of similar to 4 x 10(-14) erg cm(-2) s(-1) and is best fit by a blackbody plus power-law model with a photon index of Gamma = 0.8. A thermal X-ray model is unable to account for photons >1 keV, while a radio non-detection favours inverse-Compton scattering rather than a jet for the non-thermal component. We model the optical and UV light curves using the Modular Open-Source Fitter for Transients (MOSFiT) and find a best fit for a black hole of 5.2 x 10(6) M-circle dot, disrupting a 0.1 M-circle dot, star; the model suggests the star was likely only partially disrupted, based on the derived impact parameter of beta = 0.6, The low optical depth implied by the small debris mass may explain how we are able to see hydrogen emission with disc-like line profiles in the spectra of AT2018hyz (see our companion paper).