The HSC-SSP Transient Survey: Implications from Early Photometry and
  Rise Time of Normal Type Ia Supernovae
  With a booming number of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) discovered within a few
days of their explosions, a fraction of SNe Ia that show luminosity excess in
the early phase (early-excess SNe Ia) have been confirmed. In this article, we
report early-phase observations of seven photometrically normal SNe Ia (six
early detections and one deep non-detection limit) at the COSMOS field through
a half-year transient survey as a part of the Hyper Suprime-Cam Subaru
Strategic Program (HSC SSP). In particular, a blue light-curve excess was
discovered for HSC17bmhk, a normal SN Ia with rise time longer than 18.8 days,
during the first four days after the discovery. The blue early excess in
optical wavelength can be explained not only by interactions with a
non-degenerate companion or surrounding dense circumstellar matter but also
radiation powered by radioactive decays of $^{56}$Ni at the surface of the SN
ejecta. Given the growing evidence of the early-excess discoveries in normal
SNe Ia that have longer rise times than the average and a similarity in the
nature of the blue excess to a luminous SN Ia subclass, we infer that early
excess discovered in HSC17bmhk and other normal SNe Ia are most likely
attributed to radioactive $^{56}$Ni decay at the surface of the SN ejecta. In
order to successfully identify normal SNe Ia with early excess similar to that
of HSC17bmhk, early UV photometries or high-cadence blue-band surveys are
necessary.
