Type IIb supernovae (SNe) are important candidates to understand mechanisms that drive the stripping of stripped-envelope (SE) supernova (SN) progenitors. While binary interactions and their high ...incidence are generally cited to favor them as SN IIb progenitors, this idea has not been tested using models covering a broad parameter space. In this paper, we use non-rotating single- and binary-star models at solar and low metallicities spanning a wide parameter space in primary mass, mass ratio, orbital period, and mass transfer efficiencies. We find that our single- and binary-star models contribute to roughly equal, however small, numbers of SNe IIb at solar metallicity. Binaries only dominate as progenitors at low metallicity. We also find that our models can account for less than half of the observationally inferred rate for SNe IIb at solar metallicity, with computed rates 4% of core-collapse (CC) SNe. On the other hand, our models can account for the rates currently indicated by observations at low metallicity, with computed rates as high as 15% of CC SNe. However, this requires low mass transfer efficiencies ( 0.1) to prevent most progenitors from entering contact. We suggest that the stellar wind mass-loss rates at solar metallicity used in our models are too high. Lower mass-loss rates would widen the parameter space for binary SNe IIb at solar metallicity by allowing stars that initiate mass transfer earlier in their evolution to reach CC without getting fully stripped.
The deluge of data from time-domain surveys is rendering traditional human-guided data collection and inference techniques impractical. We propose a novel approach for conducting data collection for ...science inference in the era of massive large-scale surveys that uses value-based metrics to autonomously strategize and coordinate follow-up in real time. We demonstrate the underlying principles in the Recommender Engine For Intelligent Transient Tracking (REFITT) that ingests live alerts from surveys and value-added inputs from data brokers to predict the future behavior of transients and design optimal data augmentation strategies given a set of scientific objectives. The prototype presented in this paper is tested to work given simulated Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) core-collapse supernova (CC SN) light curves from the Photometric LSST Astronomical Time-series Classification Challenge data set. CC SNe were selected for the initial development phase as they are known to be difficult to classify, with the expectation that any learning techniques for them should be at least as effective for other transients. We demonstrate the behavior of REFITT on a random LSST night given ∼32,000 live CC SNe of interest. The system makes good predictions for the photometric behavior of the events and uses them to plan follow-up using a simple data-driven metric. We argue that machine-directed follow-up maximizes the scientific potential of surveys and follow-up resources by reducing downtime and bias in data collection.
Type IIb supernovae (SNe) present a unique opportunity for understanding the progenitors of stripped-envelope SNe because the stellar progenitor of several SNe IIb 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 SN IIb 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 M and 2 M , 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 that 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 SNe IIb. Our analysis demonstrates the importance of statistical inference methods to constrain progenitor channels.
We present a three-dimensional kinematic reconstruction of the optically emitting, oxygen-rich ejecta of supernova remnant N132D in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). Data were obtained with the 6.5 m ...Magellan telescope in combination with the IMACS+GISMO instrument and survey O iii λλ4959, 5007 line emission in a ∼3′ × 3′ region centered on N132D. The spatial and spectral resolutions of our data enable detailed examination of the optical ejecta structure. The majority of N132D's optically bright oxygen ejecta are arranged in a torus-like geometry tilted approximately 28° with respect to the plane of the sky. The torus has a radius of 4.4 pc (DLMC/50 kpc), exhibits a blueshifted radial velocity asymmetry of −3000 to +2300 km s−1, and has a conspicuous break in its circumference. Assuming homologous expansion from the geometric center of O-rich filaments, the average expansion velocity of 1745 km s−1 translates to an age since explosion of 2450 195 yr. A faint, spatially separated "runaway knot" (RK) with total space velocity of 3650 km s−1 is nearly perpendicular to the torus plane and coincident with X-ray emission that is substantially enhanced in Si relative to the LMC and N132D's bulk ejecta. These kinematic and chemical signatures suggest that the RK may have had its origin deep within the progenitor star. Overall, the main-shell morphology and high-velocity, Si-enriched components of N132D have remarkable similarity with those of Cassiopeia A, which was the result of a Type IIb supernova explosion. Our results underscore the need for further observations and simulations that can robustly reconcile whether the observed morphology is dominated by explosion dynamics or shaped by interaction with the environment.
Abstract
We analyze a sample of 45 Type II supernovae from the Zwicky Transient Facility public survey using a grid of hydrodynamical models in order to assess whether theoretically driven forecasts ...can intelligently guide follow-up observations supporting all-sky survey alert streams. We estimate several progenitor properties and explosion physics parameters, including zero-age main-sequence (ZAMS) mass, mass-loss rate, kinetic energy,
56
Ni mass synthesized, host extinction, and the time of the explosion. Using complete light curves we obtain confident characterizations for 34 events in our sample, with the inferences of the remaining 11 events limited either by poorly constraining data or the boundaries of our model grid. We also simulate real-time characterization of alert stream data by comparing our model grid to various stages of incomplete light curves (Δ
t
< 25 days, Δ
t
< 50 days, all data), and find that some parameters are more reliable indicators of true values at early epochs than others. Specifically, ZAMS mass, time of the explosion, steepness parameter
β
, and host extinction are reasonably constrained with incomplete light-curve data, whereas mass-loss rate, kinetic energy, and
56
Ni mass estimates generally require complete light curves spanning >100 days. We conclude that real-time modeling of transients, supported by multi-band synthetic light curves tailored to survey passbands, can be used as a powerful tool to identify critical epochs of follow-up observations. Our findings are relevant to identifying, prioritizing, and coordinating efficient follow-up of transients discovered by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory.
Abstract
Narrow transient emission lines (flash-ionization features) in early supernova (SN) spectra trace the presence of circumstellar material (CSM) around the massive progenitor stars of ...core-collapse SNe. The lines disappear within days after the SN explosion, suggesting that this material is spatially confined, and originates from enhanced mass loss shortly (months to a few years) prior to the explosion. We performed a systematic survey of H-rich (Type II) SNe discovered within less than 2 days from the explosion during the first phase of the Zwicky Transient Facility survey (2018–2020), finding 30 events for which a first spectrum was obtained within <2 days from the explosion. The measured fraction of events showing flash-ionization features (>36% at the 95% confidence level) confirms that elevated mass loss in massive stars prior to SN explosion is common. We find that SNe II showing flash-ionization features are not significantly brighter, nor bluer, nor more slowly rising than those without. This implies that CSM interaction does not contribute significantly to their early continuum emission, and that the CSM is likely optically thin. We measured the persistence duration of flash-ionization emission and find that most SNe show flash features for ≈5 days. Rarer events, with persistence timescales >10 days, are brighter and rise longer, suggesting these may be intermediate between regular SNe II and strongly interacting SNe IIn.
Abstract
An advanced LIGO and Virgo’s third observing run brought another binary neutron star merger (BNS) and the first neutron-star black hole mergers. While no confirmed kilonovae were identified ...in conjunction with any of these events, continued improvements of analyses surrounding GW170817 allow us to project constraints on the Hubble Constant (
H
0
), the Galactic enrichment from
r
-process nucleosynthesis, and ultra-dense matter possible from forthcoming events. Here, we describe the expected constraints based on the latest expected event rates from the international gravitational-wave network and analyses of GW170817. We show the expected detection rate of gravitational waves and their counterparts, as well as how sensitive potential constraints are to the observed numbers of counterparts. We intend this analysis as support for the community when creating scientifically driven electromagnetic follow-up proposals. During the next observing run O4, we predict an annual detection rate of electromagnetic counterparts from BNS of
0.43
−
0.26
+
0.58
(
1.97
−
1.2
+
2.68
) for the Zwicky Transient Facility (Rubin Observatory).
Abstract
We present new proper-motion measurements of optically emitting oxygen-rich knots of supernova remnant 1E 0102.2-7219 (E0102), which are used to estimate the remnant’s center of expansion ...and age. Four epochs of high-resolution Hubble Space Telescope images spanning 19 yr were retrieved and analyzed. We found a robust center of expansion of
α
= 1
h
04
m
02.ˢ48 and
δ
= −72°01′53.″92 (J2000) with 1
σ
uncertainty of 1.″77 using 45 knots from images obtained with the Advanced Camera for Surveys using the F475W filter in 2003 and 2013 having the highest signal-to-noise ratio. We also estimate an upper limit explosion age of 1738 ± 175 yr by selecting the knots with the highest proper motions and these knots are assumed to be the least decelerated. We find evidence of an asymmetry in the proper motions of the knots as a function of position angle. We conclude that these asymmetries were most likely caused by interaction between E0102's original supernova blast wave and an inhomogeneous surrounding environment, as opposed to intrinsic explosion asymmetry. The observed nonhomologous expansion suggests that the use of a free expansion model inaccurately offsets the center of expansion and leads to an overestimated explosion age. We discuss our findings as they compare to previous age and center of expansion estimates of E0102, as well as their relevance to a recently identified candidate central compact object.
The multi-messenger detection of the gravitational-wave signal GW170817, the corresponding kilonova AT2017gfo and the short gamma-ray burst GRB170817A, as well as the observed afterglow has delivered ...a scientific breakthrough. For an accurate interpretation of all these different messengers, one requires robust theoretical models that describe the emitted gravitational-wave, the electromagnetic emission, and dense matter reliably. In addition, one needs efficient and accurate computational tools to ensure a correct cross-correlation between the models and the observational data. For this purpose, we have developed the Nuclear-physics and Multi-Messenger Astrophysics framework NMMA. The code allows incorporation of nuclear-physics constraints at low densities as well as X-ray and radio observations of isolated neutron stars. In previous works, the NMMA code has allowed us to constrain the equation of state of supranuclear dense matter, to measure the Hubble constant, and to compare dense-matter physics probed in neutron-star mergers and in heavy-ion collisions, and to classify electromagnetic observations and perform model selection. Here, we show an extension of the NMMA code as a first attempt of analyzing the gravitational-wave signal, the kilonova, and the gamma-ray burst afterglow simultaneously. Incorporating all available information, we estimate the radius of a 1.4M
neutron star to be Formula: see text km.
Abstract
We present proper motion measurements of the oxygen-rich ejecta of the LMC supernova remnant N132D using two epochs of Hubble Space Telescope Advanced Camera for Surveys data spanning 16 ...years. The proper motions of 120 individual knots of oxygen-rich gas were measured and used to calculate a center of expansion (CoE) of
α
= 5
h
25
m
01.ˢ71 and
δ
= −69°38′41.″64 (J2000) with a 1
σ
uncertainty of 2.″90. This new CoE measurement is 9.″2 and 10.″8 from two previous CoE estimates based on the geometry of the optically emitting ejecta. We also derive an explosion age of 2770 ± 500 yr, which is consistent with recent age estimates of ≈2500 yr made from 3D ejecta reconstructions. We verified our estimates of the CoE and age using a new automated procedure that detected and tracked the proper motions of 137 knots, with 73 knots that overlap with the visually identified knots. We find that the proper motions of the ejecta are still ballistic, despite the remnant’s age, and are consistent with the notion that the ejecta are expanding into an interstellar medium cavity. Evidence for explosion asymmetry from the parent supernova is also observed. Using the visually measured proper motion measurements and corresponding CoE and age, we compare N132D to other supernova remnants with proper motion ejecta studies.