WD + MS systems as the progenitor of SNe Ia

TL;DR

This paper models the progenitors of Type Ia supernovae using WD + MS systems, explaining observed phenomena and predicting polarization signals, thereby advancing understanding of supernova origins.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive model for WD + MS progenitors that explains observed supernova features and predicts polarization in most SNe Ia.

Findings

Explains the positions of recurrent novae and SSS RX J0513.9-6951.

Accounts for the space velocity and mass of Tycho G.

Predicts at least 75% of SNe Ia may show polarization signals.

Abstract

We show the initial and final parameter space for SNe Ia in a ($\log P^{\rm i}, M_{\rm 2}^{\rm i}$) plane and find that the positions of some famous recurrent novae, as well as a supersoft X-ray source (SSS), RX J0513.9-6951, are well explained by our model. The model can also explain the space velocity and mass of Tycho G, which is now suggested to be the companion star of Tycho's supernova. Our study indicates that the SSS, V Sge, might be the potential progenitor of supernovae like SN 2002ic if the delayed dynamical-instability model due to Han & Podsiadlowski (2006) is appropriate. Following the work of Meng, Chen & Han (2009), we found that the SD model (WD + MS) with an optically thick wind can explain the birth rate of supernovae like SN 2006X and reproduce the distribution of the color excess of SNe Ia. The model also predicts that at least 75% of all SNe Ia may show a polarization signal in their spectra.