The Low-luminosity Type IIP Supernova 2016bkv with Early-phase Circumstellar Interaction

We present optical and near-infrared observations of a low-luminosity Type IIP supernova (SN) 2016bkv from the initial rising phase to the plateauphase. Our observations show that the end of the plateauis extended to $\gtrsim 140$ days since the explosion, indicating that this SN takes one of the longest time to finish the plateauphase. among Type IIP SNe (SNe IIP), including low-luminosity (LL) SNe IIP. The line velocities of various ions at the middle of the plateauphase are as low as 1,000--1,500 km s$^{-1}$, which is the lowest even among LL SNe IIP. These measurements imply that the ejectamass in SN 2016bkv is larger than that of the well-studied LL IIP SN 2003Z. In the early phase, SN 2016bkv shows a strong bump in the light curve. In addition, the optical spectra in this bump phase exhibit a blue continuum accompanied with a narrow H$\ alpha$ emission line. These features indicate an interaction between the SN ejectaand the circumstellar matter (CSM) as in SNe IIn. Assuming the ejecta-CSM interaction scenario, the mass loss rate is estimated to be $\sim 1.7 \times 10^{-2} M_{\odot}$ yr$^{-1}$ within a few years before the SN explosion. This is comparable to or even larger than the largest mass loss rate observed for the Galactic red supergiants($\sim 10^{-3} M_{\odot}$ yr$^{-1}$ for VY CMa). We suggest that the progenitor star of SN 2016bkv experienced a violent mass loss just before the SN explosion.