Secondary Fe-peak nuclei in the Tycho Supernova Remnant: A Promising Tracer of Type Ia Progenitor Metallicity

TL;DR

This paper reviews how the Mn to Cr mass ratio in supernova remnants can serve as a tracer for the metallicity of Type Ia supernova progenitors, using observations from Tycho and W49B.

Contribution

It discusses the advantages and challenges of using Mn to Cr ratios as metallicity indicators, supported by X-ray spectral analysis of Tycho and W49B remnants.

Findings

Both Tycho and W49B suggest progenitors with supersolar metallicity.

The Mn to Cr ratio can potentially distinguish progenitor metallicities.

X-ray spectral data supports the use of this ratio as a metallicity tracer.

Abstract

The Mn to Cr mass ratio in supernova ejecta has recently been proposed as a tracer of Type Ia SN progenitor metallicity. We review the advantages and problems of this observable quantity, and discuss them in the framework of two Galactic supernova remnants: the well known Tycho SNR and W49B, an older object that has been tentatively classified as Type Ia. The fluxes of the Mn and Cr Ka lines in the X-ray spectra of these SNRs observed by the Suzaku and ASCA satellites suggest progenitors of supersolar metallicity for both objects.