An optimal hydrodynamic model for the normal Type IIP supernova 1999em

There is still no consensus about progenitor masses of Type IIP supernovae. We study a normal Type IIP SN 1999em in detail and compare it to a peculiar Type IIP SN 1987A. We computed the hydrodynamic and time-dependent atmosphere models interpreting simultaneously both the photometric and spectroscopic observations. The bolometric light curve of SN 1999em and the spectral evolution of its H-alpha line are consistent with a presupernova radius of 500 Rsun, an ejecta mass of 19.0 Msun, an explosion energy of 1.3x10^51 erg, and a radioactive 56Ni mass of 0.036 Msun. A mutual mixing of hydrogen-rich and helium-rich matter in the inner layers of the ejecta guarantees a good fit of the calculated light curve to that observed. Based on the hydrodynamic models in the vicinity of the optimal model, we derive the approximate relationships between the basic physical and observed parameters. We find that the hydrogen recombination in the atmosphere of a normal Type IIP SN 1999em, as well as most likely other Type IIP supernovae at the photospheric epoch, is essentially a time-dependent phenomenon. It is also shown that in normal Type IIP supernovae the homologous expansion of the ejecta in its atmosphere takes place starting from nearly the third day after the supernova explosion. A comparison of SN 1999em with SN 1987A reveals two very important results for supernova theory. First, the comparability of the helium core masses and the explosion energies implies a unique explosion mechanism for these core collapse supernovae. Second, the optimal model for SN 1999em is characterized by a weaker 56Ni mixing up to 660 km/s compared to a moderate 56Ni mixing up to 3000 km/s in SN 1987A, hydrogen being mixed deeply downward to 650 km/s.Comment: 21 pages, 24 figures. Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysic

The Light Curve of Supernova 1987A: The Structure of the Presupernova and Radioactive Nickel Mixing

We have studied the influence of the presupernova structure and the degree of Ni-56 mixing on the bolometric light curve of SN 1987A in terms of radiation hydrodynamics in the one-group approximation by abandoning LTE and by taking into account nonthermal ionization and the contribution of spectral lines to opacity. Our study shows that moderate Ni-56 mixing at velocities of < 2500 km/s can explain the observed light curve if the density of the outer layers of the presupernova exceeds the value obtained in the evolutionary model of a single nonrotating star severalfold. Abandoning LTE and allowing for nonthermal ionization when solving the equation of state and calculating the mean opacities and the thermal emission coefficient leads to a significant difference between the gas temperature and the radiation temperature in the optically thin layers of the supernova envelope. We demonstrate the fundamental role of the contribution of spectral lines to the opacity in an expanding envelope and of the accurate description of radiative transfer in reproducing the observed shape of the bolometric light curve. We have found that disregarding the contribution of spectral lines to the opacity introduces an error of 20% into the explosion energy, and that a similar error is possible when determining the mass of the ejected matter. The resonant scattering of radiation in numerous lines accelerates the outer layers to velocities of 36 000 km/s; this additional acceleration affects the outer layers with a mass of 10^{-6} Msun. Proper calculations of the supernova luminosity require that not only the delay effects, but also the limb-darkening effects be taken into account.Comment: 16 pages, 13 figures, 1 tabl

Ejecta and progenitor of the low-luminosity Type IIP supernova 2003Z

The origin of low-luminosity Type IIP supernovae is unclear: they have been proposed to originate either from massive (about 25 Msun) or low-mass (about 9 Msun) stars. We wish to determine parameters of the low-luminosity Type IIP supernova 2003Z, to estimate a mass-loss rate of the presupernova, and to recover a progenitor mass. We compute the hydrodynamic models of the supernova to describe the light curves and the observed expansion velocities. The wind density of the presupernova is estimated using a thin shell model for the interaction with circumstellar matter. We estimate an ejecta mass of 14 Msun, an explosion energy of 2.45x10^50 erg, a presupernova radius of 229 Rsun, and a radioactive Ni-56 amount of 0.0063 Msun. The upper limit of the wind density parameter in the presupernova vicinity is 10^13 g/cm, and the mass lost at the red/yellow supergiant stage is less than 0.6 Msun assuming the constant mass-loss rate. The estimated progenitor mass is in the range of 14.4-17.4 Msun. The presupernova of SN 2003Z was probably a yellow supergiant at the time of the explosion. The progenitor mass of SN 2003Z is lower than those of SN 1987A and SN 1999em, normal Type IIP supernovae, but higher than the lower limit of stars undergoing a core collapse. We propose an observational test based on the circumstellar interaction to discriminate between the massive (about 25 Msun) and moderate-mass (about 16 Msun) scenarios.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figures, 3 tables, accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics; one reference remove

Luminous type IIP SN 2013ej with high-velocity Ni-56 ejecta

We explore the well-observed type IIP SN 2013ej with peculiar luminosity evolution. It is found that the hydrodynamic model cannot reproduce in detail the bolometric luminosity at both the plateau and the radioactive tail. Yet the ejecta mass of 23-26 Msun and the kinetic energy of (1.2-1.4)x10^51 erg are determined rather confidently. We suggest that the controversy revealed in hydrodynamic simulations stems from the strong asphericity of the Ni-56 ejecta. An analysis of the asymmetric nebular H-alpha line and of the peculiar radioactive tail made it possible to recover parameters of the asymmetric bipolar Ni-56 ejecta with the heavier jet residing in the rear hemisphere. The inferred Ni-56 mass is 0.039 Msun, twice as large compared to a straightforward estimate from the bolometric luminosity at the early radioactive tail. The bulk of ejected Ni-56 has velocities in the range of 4000-6500 km/s. The linear polarization predicted by the model with the asymmetric ionization produced by bipolar Ni-56 ejecta is consistent with the observational value.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figures, 3 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRA

Progenitor mass of the type IIP supernova 2005cs

The progenitor mass of type IIP supernova can be determined from either hydrodynamic modeling of the event or pre-explosion observations. To compare these approaches, we determine parameters of the sub-luminous supernova 2005cs and estimate its progenitor mass. We compute the hydrodynamic models of the supernova to describe its light curves and expansion velocity data. We estimate a presupernova mass of 17.3 Msun, an explosion energy of 4.1x10^{50} erg, a presupernova radius of 600 Rsun, and a radioactive Ni-56 mass of 0.0082 Msun. The derived progenitor mass of SN 2005cs is 18.2 Msun, which is in-between those of low-luminosity and normal type IIP supernovae. The obtained progenitor mass of SN 2005cs is higher than derived from pre-explosion images. The masses of four type IIP supernovae estimated by means of hydrodynamic modeling are systematically higher than the average progenitor mass for the 9-25 Msun mass range. This result, if confirmed for a larger sample, would imply that a serious revision of the present-day view on the progenitors of type IIP supernovae is required.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysic

Type IIP supernova 2008in: the explosion of a normal red supergiant

The explosion energy and the ejecta mass of a type IIP supernova make up the basis for the theory of explosion mechanism. So far, these parameters have only been determined for seven events. Type IIP supernova 2008in is another well-observed event for which a detailed hydrodynamic modeling can be used to derive the supernova parameters. Hydrodynamic modeling was employed to describe the bolometric light curve and the expansion velocities at the photosphere level. A time-dependent model for hydrogen ionization and excitation was applied to model the Halpha and Hbeta line profiles. We found an ejecta mass of 13.6 Msun, an explosion energy of 5.05x10^50 erg, a presupernova radius of 570 Rsun, and a radioactive Ni-56 mass of 0.015 Msun. The estimated progenitor mass is 15.5 Msun. We uncovered a problem of the Halpha and Hbeta description at the early phase, which cannot be resolved within a spherically symmetric model. The presupernova of SN 2008in was a normal red supergiant with the minimum mass of the progenitor among eight type IIP supernovae explored by means of the hydrodynamic modeling. The problem of the absence of type IIP supernovae with the progenitor masses <15 Msun in this sample remains open.Comment: 6 pages, 8 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in A&

Strong effects of time-dependent ionization in early SN 1987A

We study a time-dependent hydrogen ionization in the atmosphere of SN 1987A during the first month after the explosion. The model includes kinetics of hydrogen ionization and excitation, molecular hydrogen kinetics, and a time-dependent energy balance. The primary strong effect of the time-dependent ionization is the enhanced hydrogen ionization compared to the steady-state model. The time-dependent ionization provides a sufficient population of excited hydrogen levels to account for the observed H-alpha without invoking the external Ni-56. We find that the Ba II 6142 A line in SN 1987A can be reproduced for the LMC barium abundance. This resolves the long-standing problem of the unacceptably high barium overabundance in SN 1987A. The key missing factor that should be blamed for the "barium problem" is the time-dependent ionization. The modelling of the H-alpha profile on day 4.64 indicates the ratio of the kinetic energy to the ejected mass about 0.83 10^{50} erg/Msun.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures, 5 tables, submitted to A&