Tycho-B: an unlikely companion for SN 1572

Abstract

If some or all Type Ia SNe arise from accretion onto a massive WD from a companion, then the companion will remain in some form after the SN explosion. Tycho-B is an unusual, relatively hot star along the line of sight to Tycho's SNR -- conclusively shown to be a Type Ia -- and has been suggested as such a companion. If the interior of Tycho's SNR contains unshocked Fe, and if Tycho-B is either within the SNR shell or in the background, then one might hope to see evidence of this in the UV spectrum. Such is the case for SN\,1006, where spectra of the background Schweizer-Middleditch star, as well as two AGNs, show broad absorption lines of Fe II. To test this idea, we have used STIS on HST to obtain a UV spectrum of Tycho-B. The observed spectrum, however, shows no evidence of Fe II absorption. Furthermore, a luminosity distance estimate using UV and optical spectra of Tycho-B suggests that the star is consistent with a foreground interloper. We conclude either that Tycho B is nearer than Tycho's SNR, or that all of the Fe in the interior of Tycho's SNR is more highly ionized.

9 pages, 7 figures, submitted to MNRAS and comments (particularly constructive criticisms) are always welcome

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• Tycho's supernova: the view from {\it Gaia}
• An Expanding Shell of Neutral Hydrogen Associated with SN 1006: Hints for the Single-Degenerate Origin and Faint Hadronic Gamma-Rays
• Searching for a Hypervelocity White Dwarf Companion: A Proper Motion Survey of SN 1006
• A fresh perspective on the 3D dynamics of Tycho's supernova remnant: Ejecta asymmetries in the X-ray band
• The 3-D X-ray Ejecta Structure of Tycho's Supernova Remnant
• White dwarf deflagrations for Type Iax supernovae: Polarisation signatures from the explosion and companion interaction
• Signatures of a surviving helium-star companion in Type Ia supernovae and constraints on the progenitor companion of SN 2011fe
• Properties and applications of a predicted population of runaway He-sdO/B stars ejected from single degenerate He-donor SNe
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• Bayesian insights in Tycho supernova remnant : a detailed mapping of ejecta properties
• Estimating Global Ejecta Mass Ratios in Tycho's SNR
• Identification of new gold lines in the 350 to 1000 nm spectral region using laser produced plasmas