Two superluminous supernovae from the early universe discovered by the
  Supernova Legacy Survey
  We present spectra and lightcurves of SNLS 06D4eu and SNLS 07D2bv, two
hydrogen-free superluminous supernovae discovered by the Supernova Legacy
Survey. At z = 1.588, SNLS 06D4eu is the highest redshift superluminous SN with
a spectrum, at M_U = -22.7 is one of the most luminous SNe ever observed, and
gives a rare glimpse into the restframe ultraviolet where these supernovae put
out their peak energy. SNLS 07D2bv does not have a host galaxy redshift, but
based on the supernova spectrum, we estimate it to be at z ~ 1.5. Both
supernovae have similar observer-frame griz lightcurves, which map to restframe
lightcurves in the U-band and UV, rising in ~ 20 restframe days or longer, and
declining over a similar timescale. The lightcurves peak in the shortest
wavelengths first, consistent with an expanding blackbody starting near 15,000
K and steadily declining in temperature. We compare the spectra to theoretical
models, and identify lines of C II, C III, Fe III, and Mg II in the spectrum of
SNLS 06D4eu and SCP 06F6, and find that they are consistent with an expanding
explosion of only a few solar masses of carbon, oxygen, and other trace metals.
Thus the progenitors appear to be related to those suspected for SNe Ic. A high
kinetic energy, 10^52 ergs, is also favored. Normal mechanisms of powering
core- collapse or thermonuclear supernovae do not seem to work for these
supernovae. We consider models powered by 56Ni decay and interaction with
circumstellar material, but find that the creation and spin-down of a magnetar
with a period of 2ms, magnetic field of 2 x 10^14 Gauss, and a 3 solar mass
progenitor provides the best fit to the data.
