Program: GN-2008B-Q-18

Until recently, there was no evidence that the pair-instability supernova phenomenon actually occurs. Pair-instability supernovae, associated with the deaths of the most massive generation of population III stars are expected to constitute some of the brightest events in the Universe. SN 2006gy is the one of the most luminous supernova known to date. If its luminosity is due to radioactive decay of 56Ni, then a staggering amount ~several Msun would be required. We will use the near-IR spectra to probe the mass, abundance, distribution and evolution of iron-group elements which will provide a critical test of the above proposition. Late-time observations such as those we propose here, are key to providing clues on the nature of the progenitor that gave rise to this most unusual of supernovae. We have designed observations to provide the maximum information possible on an object that may well reshape our ideas on the core-collapse phenomenon.