The progenitors of core-collapse supernovae suggest thermonuclear origin for the explosions

Abstract

Core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe) are the explosions of massive stars following the collapse of the stars' iron cores. Poznanski (2013) has recently suggested an observational correlation between the ejecta velocities and the inferred masses of the red supergiant progenitors of type II-P explosions, which implies that the kinetic energy of the ejecta ($E_{\text{kin}}$) increases with the mass of the progenitor. I point out that the same conclusion can be reached from the model-free observed correlation between the ejected ${}^{56}$Ni masses ($M_{\text{Ni}}$) and the luminosities of the progenitors for type II supernovae, which was reported by Fraser et al. (2011). This correlation is in an agreement with the predictions of the collapse-induced thermonuclear explosions (CITE) for CCSNe and in a possible contradiction with the predictions of the neutrino mechanism. I show that a correlation between $M_{\text{Ni}}$ and $E_{\text{kin}}$ holds for all types of CCSNe (including type Ibc). This correlation suggests a common mechanism for all CCSNe, which is predicted for CITE, but is not produced by current simulations of the neutrino mechanism. Furthermore, the typical values of $E_{\text{kin}}$ and $M_{\text{Ni}}$ for type Ibc explosions are larger by an order of a magnitude than the typical values for II-P explosions, a fact which disfavors progenitors with the same initial mass range for these explosions. Instead, the progenitors of type Ibc explosions could be massive Wolf-Rayet stars, which are predicted to yield strong explosions with low ejecta masses (as observed) according to CITE. In this case, there is no deficit of high mass progenitors for CCSNe, which was suggested under the assumption of a similar mass range for the progenitors of types II-P and Ibc supernovae.

arXiv comment4 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables

Cited by in corpus (19)

• The jet feedback mechanism (jfm) in stars, galaxies and clusters
• GW150914: Spin based constraints on the merger time of the progenitor system
• Magnetar-powered superluminous supernovae must first be exploded by jets
• Angular momentum fluctuations in the convective helium shell of massive stars
• The imprints of the last jets in core collapse supernovae
• The $\gamma$-ray deposition histories of core-collapse supernovae
• The low-luminosity type II SN\,2016aqf: A well-monitored spectral evolution of the Ni/Fe abundance ratio
• Emission peaks in the light curve of core collapse supernovae by late jets
• Direct anthropic bound on the weak scale from supernovae explosions
• The magnetar model of the superluminous supernova GAIA16apd and the explosion jet feedback mechanism (JFM)
• Amplifying magnetic fields of a newly born neutron star by stochastic angular momentum accretion in core collapse supernovae
• Jittering-jets explosion triggered by the standing accretion shock instability
• Reviving the stalled shock by jittering jets in core collapse supernovae: The key role of magnetic fields
• Possible indications for jittering jets in core collapse supernova explosion simulations
• Enhanced mass-loss rate evolution of stars with $\gtrsim 18M_{\odot }$ and missing optically-observed type II core-collapse supernovae
• Low energy core collapse supernovae in the frame of the jittering jets explosion mechanism
• Type II supernovae progenitor and ejecta properties from the total emitted light, ET
• A mixed helium-oxygen shell in some core-collapse supernova progenitors
• A minority view on the majority: A personal meeting summary on the explosion mechanism of supernovae