Using Spatial Distributions to Constrain Progenitors of Supernovae and Gamma‐Ray Bursts

2008/08/27 by Cody Raskin, Evan Scannapieco, James Rhoads +1 · 2 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #Galaxy #Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae #Mass distribution #Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research #Scale (ratio) #Spiral galaxy #Stars #Supernova #astro-ph

paper · pdf · doi:10.1086/592495

18 pages, 19 figures, ApJ, in press

arxiv created 2008/08/27 · openalex publication_date 2008/11/22 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

We carry out a comprehensive theoretical examination of the relationship between the spatial distribution of optical transients and the properties of their progenitor stars. By constructing analytic models of star-forming galaxies and the evolution of stellar populations within them, we are able to place constraints on candidate progenitors for core-collapse supernovae (SNe), long-duration gamma-ray bursts, and SNe Ia. In particular, we first construct models of spiral galaxies that reproduce observations of core-collapse SNe, and we use these models to constrain the minimum mass for SNe Ic progenitors to ≈25 M ☉ . Second, we lay out the parameters of a dwarf irregular galaxy model, which we use to show that the progenitors of long-duration gamma-ray bursts are likely to have masses above ≈43 M ☉ . Finally, we introduce a new method for constraining the timescale associated with SNe Ia and apply it to our spiral galaxy models to show how observations can better be analyzed to discriminate between the leading progenitor models for these objects.

Citations

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Cited by

• Following the Cosmic Evolution of Pristine Gas. II. The Search for Pop III–bright Galaxies
• Gamma-Ray Burst Progenitors