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Circumstellar material in type Ia supernovae via sodium absorption features
A Sternberg1, A Gal-Yam, J D Simon
1Benoziyo Center for Astrophysics, Faculty of Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel. assaf.sternberg@weizmann.ac.il
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|August 13, 2011
Summary
Type Ia supernovae, crucial for cosmic distance measurement, likely originate from single-degenerate systems. Evidence suggests gas outflows from these progenitor systems, supporting this model for many nearby supernovae.
Area of Science:
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Cosmology
- Stellar Evolution
Background:
- Type Ia supernovae are vital cosmic distance indicators.
- Their origin is debated, primarily between single-degenerate (accreting white dwarf with a stellar companion) and double-degenerate (two white dwarfs) models.
- The identity of the mass donor in progenitor systems remains uncertain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the nature of mass donors in Type Ia supernova progenitor systems.
- To determine if observational evidence supports single-degenerate or double-degenerate scenarios.
- To analyze the characteristics of absorbing material along the line of sight to Type Ia supernovae.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed the velocity structure of absorbing material for 35 Type Ia supernovae.
- Interpreted blueshifted velocity structures as indicators of gas outflows.
- Correlated observed features with theoretical predictions of different progenitor models.
Main Results:
- The velocity structure of absorbing material was predominantly blueshifted across the sample.
- Blueshifted gas outflows are consistent with material ejected from supernova progenitor systems.
- Observed outflows favor scenarios involving gas ejection from single-degenerate systems.
Conclusions:
- The observed blueshifted absorption features suggest gas outflows from progenitor systems.
- These outflows are likely signatures of single-degenerate systems, where a white dwarf accretes from a non-white dwarf companion.
- Many Type Ia supernovae in nearby spiral galaxies may originate from single-degenerate progenitors.
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