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Photobleaching Enables Super-resolution Imaging of the FtsZ Ring in the Cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus
Published on: November 6, 2018
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A luminous, blue progenitor system for the type Iax supernova 2012Z
Curtis McCully1, Saurabh W Jha1, Ryan J Foley2
1Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, 136 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA.
Nature
|August 8, 2014
Summary
Type Iax supernovae, a less energetic subclass of Type Ia supernovae, are often explosions of white dwarfs. The progenitor of SN 2012Z was identified as a luminous, blue system, suggesting a helium-star companion.
Area of Science:
- Astrophysics
- Stellar Evolution
- Supernovae
Background:
- Type Iax supernovae are a subclass of Type Ia supernovae, characterized by lower ejecta velocities and luminosities.
- Their late-time spectra diverge from Type Ia, but composition suggests a connection.
- They occur at 5-30% the rate of normal Type Ia supernovae.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the progenitor system of the type Iax supernova SN 2012Z.
- To investigate the nature of type Iax supernovae and their relationship to type Ia supernovae.
Main Methods:
- Deep pre-explosion imaging was used to detect the progenitor system of SN 2012Z.
- Spectroscopic and photometric analysis of the progenitor system.
- Comparison with known stellar systems, including the helium nova V445 Puppis.
Main Results:
- The luminous, blue progenitor system of SN 2012Z was detected in pre-explosion images.
- The progenitor system's characteristics (luminosity, colors, environment) resemble those of the helium nova V445 Puppis.
- The findings suggest SN 2012Z resulted from a white dwarf accreting from a helium-star companion.
Conclusions:
- The progenitor system of SN 2012Z supports models of type Iax supernovae involving accreting white dwarfs.
- This discovery provides crucial insights into the formation and explosion mechanisms of type Iax supernovae.
- Further observations after SN 2012Z fades are needed to confirm the progenitor hypothesis or explore alternative scenarios.
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