The Crab Nebula's Composition and Precursor Star Mass

TL;DR

This study uses photoionization calculations to analyze the Crab Nebula's composition, revealing a significant carbon-rich component and suggesting the progenitor star's initial mass was at least 9.5 solar masses.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the nebula's chemical composition and the progenitor star’s mass through advanced photoionization modeling.

Findings

Identification of a large carbon-rich component in the nebula

Evidence supporting a progenitor star mass of at least 9.5 solar masses

Confirmation of nuclear processing stages in the nebula

Abstract

We present results of new photoionization calculations for investigating gaseous regions that represent potentially expected stages of nuclear processing in the Crab Nebula supernova remnant. In addition to gas resulting from CNO-processing and oxygen-burning, as previously reported, a large component of the nebula appears to be carbon-rich. These results suggest that the precursor star had an initial mass of 9.5 solar masses or more.