Mapping Circumstellar Matter With Polarized Light

Optical polarimetry is an effective way of probing the environment of a supernova for dust. We acquired linear HST ACS/WFC polarimetry in bandsF475W, F606W, and F775W of the supernova (SN) 2014J in M82 at six epochs from similar to 277 days to similar to 1181 days after the B-band maximum. The polarization measured at day 277 shows conspicuous deviations from other epochs. These differences can be attributed to at least similar to 10(-6) M-circle dot of circumstellar dust located at a distance of similar to 5 x 10(17) cm from the SN. The scattering dust grains revealed by these observations seem to be aligned with the dust in the interstellar medium that is responsible for the large reddening toward the supernova. The presence of this circumstellar dust sets strong constraints on the progenitor system that led to the explosion of SN 2014J; however, it cannot discriminate between single-and double-degenerate models.