High mass of the type IIP supernova 2004et inferred from hydrodynamic modeling

TL;DR

This study uses hydrodynamic modeling to estimate the progenitor mass of supernova 2004et, finding it to be significantly higher than previous estimates from pre-explosion images, and discusses potential reasons for this discrepancy.

Contribution

It provides a detailed hydrodynamic analysis of SN 2004et, estimating its progenitor mass and explosion parameters, and highlights the possible impact of multi-dimensional effects on mass estimates.

Findings

Progenitor mass estimated at 25-29 Msun from hydrodynamic models.

Detection of explosion asymmetry in nebular spectra.

Hydrodynamic mass estimates are higher than pre-explosion image estimates.

Abstract

Previous studies of type IIP supernovae have inferred that progenitor masses recovered from hydrodynamic models are higher than 15 Msun. To verify the progenitor mass of this supernova category, we attempt a parameter determination of the well-observed luminous type IIP supernova 2004et. We model the bolometric light curve and the photospheric velocities of SN 2004et by means of hydrodynamic simulations in an extended parameter space. From hydrodynamic simulations and observational data, we infer a presupernova radius of 1500 Rsun, an ejecta mass of 24.5 Msun, an explosion energy of 2.3x10^{51} erg, and a radioactive Ni-56 mass of 0.068 Msun. The estimated progenitor mass on the main sequence is in the range of 25-29 Msun. In addition, we find clear signatures of the explosion asymmetry in the nebular spectra of SN 2004et. The measured progenitor mass of SN 2004et is significantly higher than the progenitor mass suggested by the pre-explosion images. We speculate that the mass inferred from hydrodynamic modeling is overestimated and crucial missing factors are multi-dimensional effects.