Unprecedented Early Flux Excess in the Hybrid 02es-like Type Ia Supernova 2022ywc Indicates Interaction with Circumstellar Material

We present optical photometric and spectroscopic observations of the 02es-like type Ia supernova (SN) 2022ywc. The transient occurred in the outskirts of an elliptical host galaxy and showed a striking double-peaked light curve with an early excess feature detected in the ATLAS orange and cyan bands. The early excess is remarkably luminous with an absolute magnitude similar to - 19, comparable in luminosity to the subsequent radioactively driven second peak. The spectra resemble the hybrid 02es-like SN 2016jhr, which is considered to be a helium shell detonation candidate. We investigate different physical mechanisms that could power such a prominent early excess and rule out massive helium shell detonation, surface 56Ni distribution, and ejecta-companion interaction. We conclude that SN ejecta interacting with circumstellar material (CSM) is the most viable scenario. Semianalytical modeling with MOSFiT indicates that SN ejecta interacting with similar to 0.05 M circle dot of CSM at a distance of similar to 1014 cm can explain the extraordinary light curve. A double-degenerate scenario may explain the origin of the CSM, by tidally stripped material from either the secondary white dwarf or disk-originated matter launched along polar axes following the disruption and accretion of the secondary white dwarf. A nonspherical CSM configuration could suggest that a small fraction of 02es-like events viewed along a favorable line of sight may be expected to display a very conspicuous early excess like SN 2022ywc.