Return to search

Probing Post-Explosion Evolution of Supernovae in the Type Ia Single Degenerate Channel

Two leading theories exist to explain the progenitor models of Type Ia supernovae. In the single-degenerate scenario (SDS), a carbon-oxygen white dwarf slowly accretes matter from a
non-degenerate binary companion that is exceeding its roche lobe until the mass of the white dwarf reaches the Chandrasekhar limit (M ∼ 1.4 solar masses). At this point a deflagration wave
begins in the core, eventually turning into a detonation wave that reaches the surface and annihilates the white dwarf, causing the supernova event. In the double-degenerate scenario (DDS),
two white dwarfs lose angular momentum due to the emission of gravitational waves and merge together, exceeding the Chandrasekhar limit and causing a supernova. In this study, we explore the
observational evidence indicative of only the single-degenerate scenario by looking at the long-term effects caused by the interaction between the supernova debris and the non-degenerate
companion. We model the interaction in two dimensions using the PROTEUS code that utilizes adaptive mesh refinement. Our simulations involve one supernova type interacting with one of seven
different companion types -- four main-sequence-like stars (MS), one subgiant (SG), and two red giants (SY). During the interaction, a region mostly devoid of material is formed behind the
companion. We find that the structure of this 'hole' formed behind the companion is similar across each of these models, with an angular size extending 30°-45°. The structure of the supernova
remnant is affected out to 90°-100° as a result of the interaction with the companion. Each companion type has a characteristic percentage of mass stripped from it by the end of the
simulation with MS stars losing about ∼20% of their mass, the SG star losing about ∼10%, and the SY stars losing about ∼40%, where in the SY case only the denerate core and a small portion of
the stellar envelope is left over. We find that the interaction contaminates the companion with trace amounts of Nickel-56. 10⁻¹⁶ to 10⁻⁸ solar masses of Nickel-56 are found in the MS stars,
10⁻⁷ solar masses are found in the SG star, and 10⁻¹⁹ to 10⁻²¹ solar masses are found in the SY stars' leftover envelope, though this contamination may be purely numerical. In the initial
stages of the interaction, we find that the superheated material trapped between the companion and the expanding ejecta is capable of prompt X-ray emission through the evacuated hole once it
travels around the companion and along the border of the hole. The temperature of this material is expected to decrease once it reaches the hole, but at each model's most energetic time, all
three sample systems considered are capable of producing soft X-rays (for the MS38 system, the bulk of potential X-ray emission lies in the range 2.73 to 4.32 KeV, for the SG system, 1.08 to
2.43 KeV, and for the SY319 system, 0.09 to 0.27 KeV). / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Scientific Computing in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. / Fall Semester, 2014. / October 30, 2014. / Close Binaries, General Supernovae, Hydrodynamics, Numerical Methods / Includes bibliographical references. / Tomasz Plewa, Professor Directing Thesis; Gordon Erlebacher, Committee Member; Anke Meyer-Baese, Committee Member.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_252806
ContributorsBoehner, Philip (authoraut), Plewa, Tomasz (professor directing thesis), Erlebacher, Gordon, 1957- (committee member), Meyer-Baese, Anke (committee member), Florida State University (degree granting institution), College of Arts and Sciences (degree granting college), Department of Scientific Computing (degree granting department)
PublisherFlorida State University, Florida State University
Source SetsFlorida State University
LanguageEnglish, English
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeText, text
Format1 online resource (64 pages), computer, application/pdf
RightsThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them.

Page generated in 0.0019 seconds