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The ESO Supernova Progenitor Survey (SPY) has identified 58 (mostly helium-rich) subluminous O stars. We use the Balmer line strength to distinguish sdO from He-sdO (no Balmer lines) and present the results of the analyses of high resolution optical VLT-UVES spectra using an extensive grid of NLTE atmosphere models covering a large range in Teff, log g and helium abundances. The stellar atmospheric parameters are derived from line profile fits using a chi**2 technique. The resulting distribution in the (Teff, log g) diagram as well as the luminosity function are discussed in the context of stellar evolution scenarios. By combining our results with those for the sdB stars from SPY (Lisker et al. 2004) we discuss the implications for binary population synthesis models of Han et al. (2003). Models with a low CEE efficiency and a constant mass ratio distribution provide a reasonable explanation of the observed properties of the SPY sample of sdB and sdO stars indicating that the sdO stars form the hot and luminous extension of the sdB sequence. However, for the He-sdO stars none of the considered evolution scenarios are in agreement with the measured parameters of our programme stars. We conclude that He-sdO stars are formed by a different process than the sdB and sdO stars.
We carried out a quantitative spectral analysis of 73 hot subluminous O-stars selected from the SDSS spectral database. While the helium deficient sdOs are scattered over a wide range of effective temperature and gravity, the helium enriched sdO stars are concentrated in a small intervall of 40kK to 50kK and log g = 5.5 ... 6.0. Comparing the distribution in the T_eff-log g-diagram with evolutionary tracks, we find the helium deficient sdOs to be the progeny of the sdB stars. The results for the helium enriched ones are less conclusive. Both the merger of two white dwarfs and the delayed helium core flash scenarios are viable options to be explored further.
The rate evolution of subluminous Type Ia Supernovae is presented using data from the Supernova Legacy Survey. This sub-sample represents the faint and rapidly-declining light-curves of the observed supernova Ia (SN Ia) population here defined by low stretch values (s<0.8). Up to redshift z=0.6, we find 18 photometrically-identified subluminous SNe Ia, of which six have spectroscopic redshift (and three are spectroscopically-confirmed SNe Ia). The evolution of the subluminous volumetric rate is constant or slightly decreasing with redshift, in contrast to the increasing SN Ia rate found for the normal stretch population, although a rising behaviour is not conclusively ruled out. The subluminous sample is mainly found in early-type galaxies with little or no star formation, so that the rate evolution is consistent with a galactic mass dependent behavior: $r(z)=Atimes M_g$, with $A=(1.1pm0.3)times10^{-14}$ SNe per year and solar mass.
Close double degenerate binaries are one of the favoured progenitor channels for type Ia supernovae, but it is unclear how many suitable systems there are in the Galaxy. We report results of a large radial velocity survey for double degenerate (DD) binaries using the UVES spectrograph at the ESO VLT (ESO SN Ia Progenitor surveY - SPY). Exposures taken at different epochs are checked for radial velocity shifts indicating close binary systems. We observed 689 targets classified as DA (displaying hydrogen-rich atmospheres), of which 46 turned out to possess a cool companion. We measured radial velocities (RV) of the remaining 643 DA white dwarfs. We managed to secure observations at two or more epochs for 625 targets, supplemented by eleven objects meeting our selection criteria from literature. The data reduction and analysis methods applied to the survey data are described in detail. The sample contains 39 double degenerate binaries, only four of which were previously known. 20 are double-lined systems, in which features from both components are visible, the other 19 are single-lined binaries. We provide absolute RVs transformed to the heliocentric system suitable for kinematic studies. Our sample is large enough to sub-divide by mass: 16 out of 44 low mass targets (<= 0.45 Msun) are detected as DDs, while just 23 of the remaining 567 with multiple spectra and mass >0.45 Msun are double. Although the detected fraction amongst the low mass objects (36.4 +/- 7.3%) is significantly higher than for the higher-mass, carbon/oxygen-core dominated part of the sample (3.9 +/- 0.8%), it is lower than the detection efficiency based upon companion star masses >= 0.05 Msun. This suggests either companion stars of mass < 0.05 Msun, or that some of the low mass white dwarfs are single.
We have used VLT FLAMES data to constrain the uncertain physics of rotational mixing in stellar evolution models. We have simulated a population of single stars and find two groups of observed stars that cannot be explained: (1) a group of fast rotating stars which do not show evidence for rotational mixing and (2) a group of slow rotators with strong N enrichment. Binary effects and fossil magnetic fields may be considered to explain those two groups. We suggest that the element boron could be used to distinguish between rotational mixing and the binary scenario. Our single star population simulations quantify the expected amount of boron in fast and slow rotators and allow a comparison with measured nitrogen and boron abundances in B-stars.
PTF09dav is a peculiar subluminous type Ia supernova (SN) discovered by the Palomar Transient Factory (PTF). Spectroscopically, it appears superficially similar to the class of subluminous SN1991bg-like SNe, but it has several unusual features which make it stand out from this population. Its peak luminosity is fainter than any previously discovered SN1991bg-like SN Ia (M_B -15.5), but without the unusually red optical colors expected if the faint luminosity were due to extinction. The photospheric optical spectra have very unusual strong lines of Sc II and Mg I, with possible Sr II, together with stronger than average Ti II and low velocities of ~6000 km/s. The host galaxy of PTF09dav is ambiguous. The SN lies either on the extreme outskirts (~41kpc) of a spiral galaxy, or in an very faint (M_R>-12.8) dwarf galaxy, unlike other 1991bg-like SNe which are invariably associated with massive, old stellar populations. PTF09dav is also an outlier on the light-curve-width--luminosity and color--luminosity relations derived for other sub-luminous SNe Ia. The inferred 56Ni mass is small (0.019+/-0.003Msun), as is the estimated ejecta mass of 0.36Msun. Taken together, these properties make PTF09dav a remarkable event. We discuss various physical models that could explain PTF09dav. Helium shell detonation or deflagration on the surface of a CO white-dwarf can explain some of the features of PTF09dav, including the presence of Sc and the low photospheric velocities, but the observed Si and Mg are not predicted to be very abundant in these models. We conclude that no single model is currently capable of explaining all of the observed signatures of PTF09dav.