Comparative Direct Analysis of Type Ia Supernova Spectra. IV. Postmaximum

TL;DR

This study compares optical spectra of Type Ia supernovae at various postmaximum phases, revealing spectral homogeneity and dominance of permitted lines even months after maximum, with implications for supernova classification and progenitor age.

Contribution

It provides a detailed comparison of postmaximum spectra across supernova groups and challenges the notion of a nebular phase dominated by forbidden lines at 3 months.

Findings

Most supernova groups develop homogeneous spectra postmaximum.

Spectra at 3 months are dominated by permitted resonance lines, not forbidden lines.

Shallow silicon SNe Ia tend to be prompt, associated with younger stellar populations.

Abstract

A comparative study of optical spectra of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) obtained near 1 week, 3 weeks, and 3 months after maximum light is presented. Most members of the four groups that were defined on the basis of maximum light spectra in Paper II (core normal, broad line, cool, and shallow silicon) develop highly homogeneous postmaximum spectra, although there are interesting exceptions. Comparisons with SYNOW synthetic spectra show that most of the spectral features can be accounted for in a plausible way. The fits show that 3 months after maximum light, when SN Ia spectra are often said to be in the nebular phase and to consist of forbidden emission lines, the spectra actually remain dominated by resonance scattering features of permitted lines, primarily those of Fe II. Even in SN 1991bg, which is said to have made a very early transition to the nebular phase, there is no need to appeal to forbidden lines at 3 weeks postmaximum, and at 3 months postmaximum the only clear identification of a forbidden line is [Ca II] 7291, 7324. Recent studies of SN Ia rates indicate that most of the SNe Ia that have ever occurred have been "prompt" SNe Ia, produced by young (100,000,000 yr) stellar populations, while most of the SNe Ia that occur at low redshift today are "tardy", produced by an older (several Gyrs) population. We suggest that the shallow silicon SNe Ia tend to be the prompt ones.