Type IIP Supernova 2009kf: Explosion Driven by Black Hole Accretion?

TL;DR

This study models the bright Type IIP supernova 2009kf, suggesting its explosion was driven by black hole accretion, with implications for massive binary evolution and hypernova-like mechanisms.

Contribution

It provides the first hydrodynamic modeling of SN 2009kf indicating a black hole accretion-driven explosion with specific ejecta and progenitor mass estimates.

Findings

Explosion energy of 2.2x10^{52} erg suggests hypernova-like mechanism.

Progenitor mass estimated at about 36 solar masses.

Ejecta mass of 28.1 solar masses confirmed.

Abstract

Unusually bright type IIP supernova (SN) 2009kf is studied employing the hydrodynamic modelling. We derived optimal values of the ejecta mass of 28.1 Msun, explosion energy of 2.2x10^{52} erg, and presupernova radius of 2x10^3 Rsun assuming that Ni-56 mass is equal to the upper limit of 0.4 Msun. We analyzed effects of the uncertainties in the extinction and Ni-56 mass and concluded that both the ejecta mass and explosion energy cannot be significantly reduced compared with the optimal values. The huge explosion energy of SN 2009kf indicates that the explosion is caused by the same mechanism which operates in energetic SNe Ibc (hypernovae), i.e., via a rapid disk accretion onto black hole. The ejecta mass combined with the black hole mass and the mass lost by stellar wind yields the progenitor mass of about 36 Msun. We propose a scenario in which massive binary evolution might result in the SN 2009kf event.