A binary progenitor for the Type Ib Supernova iPTF13bvn. Issue Volume 9:Issue S307(2014) (23rd January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bersten, Melina C.
• Editors: Meynet, Georges; Georgy, Cyril; Groh, José; Stee, Philippe
• Is Part Of: Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union. Volume 9:Issue S307(2014)
• Page Start: 37
• Page End: 40
• Publication Date: 2015-01-23
• Subjects: stars: evolution, -- hydrodynamics, -- supernovae: general, -- supernovae: individual (iPTF13bvn); Astronomy -- Congresses; Astronomy -- Periodicals; 520
• DOI: 10.1017/S1743921314006231
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-9213

Abstract

Abstract: The recent detection in archival HST images of an object at the the location of supernova (SN) iPTF13bvn may represent the first direct evidence of the progenitor of a Type Ib SN. The object's photometry was found to be compatible with a Wolf-Rayet pre-SN star mass of ≈ 11 M ⊙ . However, based on hydrodynamical models we show that the progenitor had a pre-SN mass of ≈ 3.5 M ⊙ and that it could not be larger than ≈ 8 M ⊙ . We propose an interacting binary system as the SN progenitor and perform evolutionary calculations that are able to self-consistently explain the light-curve shape, the absence of hydrogen, and the pre-SN photometry. Our models also predict that the remaining companion is a luminous O-type star of significantly lower flux in the optical than the pre-SN object. A future detection of such star may be possible and would provide the first robust progenitor identification for a Type-Ib SN.