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Register a new userSN 2008S: an electron capture SN from a super-AGB progenitor?
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Maria Teresa Botticella
Publication date
2009
fields
Physics
and research's language is
English
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We present comprehensive photometric and spectroscopic observations of the faint transient SN 2008S discovered in NGC 6946. SN 2008S exhibited slow photometric evolution and almost no spectral variability during the first nine months, implying a high density CS medium. The light curve is similar in shape to that of SN 1998S and SN 1979C, although significantly fainter at maximum light. Our quasi-bolometric lightcurve extends to 300 days and shows a tail phase decay rate consistent with that of ^{56}Co. We propose that this is evidence for an explosion and formation of ^{56}Ni (0.0015 +/- 0.0004 M_Sun). The large MIR flux detected shortly after explosion can be explained by a light echo from pre-exisiting dust. The late NIR flux excess is plausibly due to a combination of warm newly-formed ejecta dust together with shock-heated dust in the CS environment. We reassess the progenitor object detected previously in Spitzer archive images, supplementing this discussion with a model of the MIR spectral energy distribution. This supports the idea of a dusty, optically thick shell around SN 2008S with an inner radius of nearly 90AU and outer radius of 450AU, and an inferred heating source of 3000 K and luminosity of L ~ 10^{4.6} L_Sun. The combination of our monitoring data and the evidence from the progenitor analysis leads us to support the scenario of a weak electron capture supernova explosion in a super-AGB progenitor star (of initial mass 6-8 M_sun) embedded within a thick CS gaseous envelope. We suggest that all of main properties of the electron capture SN phenomenon are observed in SN 2008S and future observations may allow a definitive answer.
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We present visual-wavelength photometry and spectroscopy of supernova SN2008S. Based on the low peak luminosity for a SN of M_R = -13.9 mag, photometric and spectral evolution unlike that of low-luminosity SNe, a late-time decline rate slower than 56Co decay, and slow outflow speeds of 600-1000 km/s, we conclude that SN2008S is not a true core-collapse SN and is probably not an electron-capture SN. Instead, we show that SN2008S more closely resembles a SN impostor event like SN1997bs, analogous to the giant eruptions of LBVs. Its total radiated energy was 1e47.8 ergs, and it may have ejected 0.05-0.2 Msun in the event. We discover an uncanny similarity between the spectrum of SN 2008S and that of the Galactic hypergiant IRC+10420, which is dominated by narrow H-alpha, [Ca II], and Ca II emission lines formed in an opaque wind. We propose a scenario where the vastly super-Eddington wind of SN2008S partly fails because of reduced opacity due to recombination, as suggested for IRC+10420. The range of initial masses susceptible to eruptive LBV-like mass loss was known to extend down to 20-25 Msun, but estimates for the progenitor of SN2008S (and the similar NGC300 transient) may extend this range to around 15 Msun. As such, SN2008S may have implications for the progenitor of SN1987A.
We report the discovery of the progenitor of the recent type IIn SN 2008S in the nearby galaxy NGC 6946. Surprisingly, it was not found in deep, pre-explosion optical images of its host galaxy taken with the Large Binocular Telescope, but only through examination of archival Spitzer mid-IR data. A source coincident with the SN 2008S position is clearly detected in the 4.5, 5.8, and 8.0 micron IRAC bands, showing no evident variability in the three years prior to the explosion, yet is undetected at 3.6 and 24 micron. The distinct presence of ~440 K dust, along with stringent LBT limits on the optical fluxes, suggests that the progenitor of SN 2008S was engulfed in a shroud of its own dust. The inferred luminosity of 3.5x10^4 Lsun implies a modest mass of ~10 Msun. We conclude that objects like SN 2008S are not exclusively associated with the deaths or outbursts of very massive eta Carinae-like objects. This conclusion holds based solely on the optical flux limits even if our identification of the progenitor with the mid-IR source is incorrect.
We present adaptive optics imaging of the core collapse supernova (SN) 2009md, which we use together with archival emph{Hubble Space Telescope} data to identify a coincident progenitor candidate. We find the progenitor to have an absolute magnitude of $V = -4.63^{+0.3}_{-0.4}$ mag and a colour of $V-I = 2.29^{+0.25}_{-0.39}$ mag, corresponding to a progenitor luminosity of log $L$/L$_{odot}$ $sim4.54pm0.19$ dex. Using the stellar evolution code STARS, we find this to be consistent with a red supergiant progenitor with $M = 8.5_{-1.5}^{+6.5}$ M$_{odot}$. The photometric and spectroscopic evolution of SN 2009md is similar to that of the class of sub-luminous Type IIP SNe; in this paper we compare the evolution of SN 2009md primarily to that of the sub-luminous SN 2005cs. We estimate the mass of $^{56}$Ni ejected in the explosion to be $(5.4pm1.3) times 10^{-3}$ M$_{odot}$ from the luminosity on the radioactive tail, which is in agreement with the low $^{56}$Ni masses estimated for other sub-luminous Type IIP SNe. From the lightcurve and spectra, we show the SN explosion had a lower energy and ejecta mass than the normal Type IIP SN 1999em. We discuss problems with stellar evolutionary models, and the discrepancy between low observed progenitor luminosities (log $L$/L$_{odot}$ $sim4.3-5$ dex) and model luminosities after the second-dredge-up for stars in this mass range, and consider an enhanced carbon burning rate as a possible solution. In conclusion, SN 2009md is a faint SN arising from the collapse of a progenitor close to the lower mass limit for core-collapse. This is now the third discovery of a low mass progenitor star producing a low energy explosion and low $^{56}$Ni ejected mass, which indicates that such events arise from the lowest end of the mass range that produces a core-collapse supernova (7-8 M$_{odot}$).
Type IIb supernovae (SNe) present a unique opportunity for understanding the progenitors of stripped-envelope (SE) SNe as the stellar progenitor of several Type IIb SNe have been identified in pre-explosion images. In this paper, we use Bayesian inference and a large grid of non-rotating solar-metallicity single and binary stellar models to derive the associated probability distributions of single and binary progenitors of the Type IIb SN 2016gkg using existing observational constraints. We find that potential binary star progenitors have smaller pre-SN hydrogen-envelope and helium-core masses than potential single-star progenitors typically by 0.1 Msun and 2 Msun, respectively. We find that, a binary companion, if present, is a main-sequence or red-giant star. Apart from this, we do not find strong constraints on the nature of the companion star. We demonstrate that the range of progenitor helium-core mass inferred from observations could help improve constraints on the progenitor. We find that the probability that the progenitor of SN 2016gkg was a binary is 22% when we use constraints only on the progenitor luminosity and effective temperature. Imposing the range of pre-SN progenitor hydrogen-envelope mass and radius inferred from SN light-curves the probability the progenitor is a binary increases to 44%. However, there is no clear preference for a binary progenitor. This is in contrast to binaries being the currently favored formation channel for Type IIb SNe. Our analysis demonstrates the importance of statistical inference methods to constrain progenitor channels.
ASASSN-18am/SN 2018gk is a newly discovered member of the rare group of luminous, hydrogen-rich supernovae (SNe) with a peak absolute magnitude of $M_V approx -20$ mag that is in between normal core-collapse SNe and superluminous SNe. These SNe show no prominent spectroscopic signatures of ejecta interacting with circumstellar material (CSM), and their powering mechanism is debated. ASASSN-18am declines extremely rapidly for a Type II SN, with a photospheric-phase decline rate of $sim6.0~rm mag~(100 d)^{-1}$. Owing to the weakening of HI and the appearance of HeI in its later phases, ASASSN-18am is spectroscopically a Type IIb SN with a partially stripped envelope. However, its photometric and spectroscopic evolution show significant differences from typical SNe IIb. Using a radiative diffusion model, we find that the light curve requires a high synthesised $rm ^{56}Ni$ mass $M_{rm Ni} sim0.4~M_odot$ and ejecta with high kinetic energy $E_{rm kin} = (7-10) times10^{51} $ erg. Introducing a magnetar central engine still requires $M_{rm Ni} sim0.3~M_odot$ and $E_{rm kin}= 3times10^{51} $ erg. The high $rm ^{56}Ni$ mass is consistent with strong iron-group nebular lines in its spectra, which are also similar to several SNe Ic-BL with high $rm ^{56}Ni$ yields. The earliest spectrum shows flash ionisation features, from which we estimate a mass-loss rate of $ dot{M}approx 2times10^{-4}~rm M_odot~yr^{-1} $. This wind density is too low to power the luminous light curve by ejecta-CSM interaction. We measure expansion velocities as high as $ 17,000 $ km/s for $H_alpha$, which is remarkably high compared to other SNe II. We estimate an oxygen core mass of $1.8-3.4$ $M_odot$ using the [OI] luminosity measured from a nebular-phase spectrum, implying a progenitor with a zero-age main sequence mass of $19-26$ $M_odot$.
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