scholarly journals Supernova explosions interacting with aspherical circumstellar material: implications for light curves, spectral line profiles, and polarization

2020 ◽  
Vol 642 ◽  
pp. A214
Author(s):  
P. Kurfürst ◽  
O. Pejcha ◽  
J. Krtička

Some supernova (SN) explosions show evidence for an interaction with a pre-existing nonspherically symmetric circumstellar medium (CSM) in their light curves, spectral line profiles, and polarization signatures. The origin of this aspherical CSM is unknown, but binary interactions have often been implicated. To better understand the connection with binary stars and to aid in the interpretation of observations, we performed two-dimensional axisymmetric hydrodynamic simulations where an expanding spherical SN ejecta initialized with realistic density and velocity profiles collide with various aspherical CSM distributions. We consider CSM in the form of a circumstellar disk, colliding wind shells in binary stars with different orientations and distances from the SN progenitor, and bipolar lobes representing a scaled down version of the Homunculus nebula of η Car. We study how our simulations map onto observables, including approximate light curves, indicative spectral line profiles at late times, and estimates of a polarization signature. We find that the SN–CSM collision layer is composed of normal and oblique shocks, reflected waves, and other hydrodynamical phenomena that lead to acceleration and shear instabilities. As a result, the total shock heating power fluctuates in time, although the emerging light curve might be smooth if the shock interaction region is deeply embedded in the SN envelope. SNe with circumstellar disks or bipolar lobes exhibit late-time spectral line profiles that are symmetric with respect to the rest velocity and relatively high polarization. In contrast, SNe with colliding wind shells naturally lead to line profiles with asymmetric and time-evolving blue and red wings and low polarization. Given the high frequency of binaries among massive stars, the interaction of SN ejecta with a pre-existing colliding wind shell must occur and the observed signatures could be used to characterize the binary companion.

2019 ◽  
Vol 631 ◽  
pp. A8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Desmond John Hillier ◽  
Luc Dessart

Hydrogen-rich (Type II) supernovae (SNe) exhibit considerable photometric and spectroscopic diversity. Extending previous work that focused exclusively on photometry, we simultaneously model the multi-band light curves and optical spectra of Type II SNe using red supergiant (RSG) progenitors that are characterized by their H-rich envelope masses or the mass and extent of an enshrouding cocoon at the star’s surface. Reducing the H-rich envelope mass yields faster declining light curves, a shorter duration of the photospheric phase, and broader line profiles at early times. However, there is only a modest boost in early-time optical brightness. Increasing the mass of the circumstellar material (CSM) is more effective at boosting the early-time brightness and producing a fast-declining light curve while leaving the duration of the photospheric phase intact. It also makes the optical color bluer, delays the onset of recombination, and can severely reduce the speed of the fastest ejecta material. The early ejecta interaction with CSM is conducive to producing featureless spectra at 10−20 d and a weak or absent Hα absorption during the recombination phase. The slow decliners SNe 1999em, 2012aw, and 2004et can be explained with a 1.2 × 1051 erg explosion in a compact (∼600 R⊙) RSG star from a 15 M⊙ stellar evolution model. A small amount of CSM (<0.2 M⊙) improves the match to the SN photometry before 10 d. With more extended RSG progenitors, models predict lower ejecta kinetic energies, but the SN color stays blue for too long and the spectral line widths are too narrow. The fast decliners SNe 2013ej and 2014G may require 0.5−1.0 M⊙ of CSM, although this depends on the CSM structure. A larger boost to the luminosity (as needed for the fast decliners SNe 1979C or 1998S) requires interaction with a more spatially extended CSM, which might also be detached from the star.


1976 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. A. Stamford ◽  
R. D. Watson

The β Cephei variables are a group of short period pulsating variables of early spectral type for which no satisfactory physical driving mechanism has yet been discovered. Further it is not clear what form of pulsation these stars are undergoing. The existence of a beat phenomenon and a phase of spectral line broadening is well established in some of these stars. This extends to observed spectral line doubling in three stars, BW Vul, σ Sco and 12 Lac. Because of the difficulty in explaining these phenomena with purely radial oscillations, Ledoux (1951) first suggested the possibility of non-radial oscillations. Other stars in the group, γ Peg, δ Cet, #x03BE;’ CMa and β Cep have approximately sinusoidal velocity and light curves with little indication of spectral line broadening. For these there is probably no a priori observational need to look beyond purely radial oscillations. It is of course conceivable that different modes of oscillation are present in different members of the β Cephei group. However, if line profiles are calculated for various proposed oscillation modes and compared with the observations, it may be possible to eliminate some suggestions and hence limit the search for an instability mechanism.


2001 ◽  
Vol 200 ◽  
pp. 332-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russel J. White ◽  
Andrea M. Ghez

We present the results of a high spatial resolution ultraviolet, optical and near-infrared survey of 44 young binary stars in Taurus-Auriga with separations of 10–1000 AU. The observations were carried out using the Hubble Space Telescope and NASA's IRTF. The binary star properties corroborate our previous work that suggests fragmentation is the dominant binary star formation mechanism. Of particular interest, we find that the components of binary systems are more coeval than randomly paired single T Tauri stars. Several important conclusions are drawn regarding the evolution of circumstellar material in binary systems. The mass accretion rates for primary stars are similar to single stars, which suggests that a companion as close as 10 AU has little effect on the mass accretion rate. These accretion rates, if constant, require replenishment of the inner circumstellar disks for at least the closest (≲ 100 AU) binary systems. On average, circumprimary disks appear to survive longer and accrete at a higher rate than circumsecondary disks do. This suggests that circumprimary disks are being preferentially replenished, possibly from a circumbinary reservoir with low angular momentum relative to the binary. The relative T Tauri types and the binary mass ratios tentatively suggest that systems with separations ≲ 200 AU share a common circumbinary reservoir. The higher mass accretion rates of primary stars relative to secondary stars is most likely due to their larger relative mass.


2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (S329) ◽  
pp. 408-408
Author(s):  
Leah Huk

AbstractSNe of Type IIn are among the brightest supernova explosions due to strong circumstellar interaction. Examining the geometric and optical properties of the circumstellar material (CSM) can help to identify the progenitors of individual IIn SNe. Polarimetry is the optimal method for constraining CSM characteristics, as polarimetric signals both depend upon and preserve geometric information from unresolved sources. I present the results of fitting an ensemble of simulated polarized Hα emission-line profiles of interacting SNe, created using a three-dimensional Monte Carlo radiative transfer code called SLIP, to the multi-epoch observed polarized spectra of the Type IIn SN 1997eg. Further study of this model ensemble will allow us to investigate relationships among SNe IIn based on viewing angle and consider how the category should be subdivided based on physical properties of the CSM and/or progenitor.


2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (S282) ◽  
pp. 293-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ján Budaj

AbstractProgram SHELLSPEC is designed to calculate light-curves, spectra and images of interacting binaries and extrasolar planets immersed in a moving circumstellar environment which is optically thin. It solves simple radiative transfer along the line of sight in moving media. The assumptions include LTE and optional known state quantities and velocity fields in 3D. Optional (non)transparent objects such as a spot, disc, stream, jet, shell or stars may be defined (embedded) in 3D and their composite synthetic spectrum calculated. The Roche model can be used as a boundary condition for the radiative transfer. Recently, a new model of the reflection effect, dust and Mie scattering were incorporated into the code.ϵ Aurigae is one of the most mysterious objects on the sky. Prior modeling of its light-curve assumed a dark, inclined, disk of dust with a central hole to explain the light-curve with a sharp mid-eclipse brightening. Our model consists of two geometrically thick flared disks: an internal optically thick disk and an external optically thin disk which absorbs and scatters radiation. Shallow mid-eclipse brightening may result from eclipses by nearly edge-on flared (dusty or gaseous) disks. Mid-eclipse brightening may also be due to strong forward scattering and optical properties of the dust which can have an important effect on the light-curves.There are many similarities between interacting binary stars and transiting extrasolar planets. The reflection effect which is briefly reviewed is one of them. The exact Roche shape and temperature distributions over the surface of all currently known transiting extrasolar planets have been determined. In some cases (HAT-P-32b, WASP-12b, WASP-19b), departures from the spherical shape can reach 7-15%.


2020 ◽  
Vol 493 (4) ◽  
pp. 5617-5624
Author(s):  
Doron Kushnir ◽  
Eli Waxman

ABSTRACT The finite time, τdep, over which positrons from β+ decays of 56Co deposit energy in type Ia supernovae ejecta lead, in case the positrons are trapped, to a slower decay of the bolometric luminosity compared to an exponential decline. Significant light-curve flattening is obtained when the ejecta density drops below the value for which τdep equals the 56Co lifetime. We provide a simple method to accurately describe this ‘delayed deposition’ effect, which is straightforward to use for analysis of observed light curves. We find that the ejecta heating is dominated by delayed deposition typically from 600 to 1200 d, and only later by longer lived isotopes 57Co and 55Fe decay (assuming solar abundance). For the relatively narrow 56Ni velocity distributions of commonly studied explosion models, the modification of the light curve depends mainly on the 56Ni mass-weighted average density, 〈ρ〉t3. Accurate late-time bolometric light curves, which may be obtained with JWST far-infrared (far-IR) measurements, will thus enable to discriminate between explosion models by determining 〈ρ〉t3 (and the 57Co and 55Fe abundances). The flattening of light curves inferred from recent observations, which is uncertain due to the lack of far-IR data, is readily explained by delayed deposition in models with $\langle \rho \rangle t^{3} \approx 0.2\, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }\, (10^{4}\, \textrm{km}\, \textrm{s}^{-1})^{-3}$, and does not imply supersolar 57Co and 55Fe abundances.


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