Galactic Constraints on Supernova Progenitor Models

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the distribution of elements in the Milky Way to constrain supernova models, revealing differences in iron and oxygen yields among supernova types and proposing that prompt SNeIa may resemble core-collapse supernovae.

Contribution

It provides new estimates of element yields from different supernova types and suggests a potential similarity between prompt SNeIa and core-collapse supernovae.

Findings

Mean oxygen ejected per core-collapse supernova is ~0.27 solar masses.

Prompt SNeIa eject less iron (~0.23 solar masses) than tardy SNeIa (~0.58 solar masses).

Short-lived supernovae supply ~85% of the Galactic disk's iron.

Abstract

We undertake a statistical analysis of the radial abundance distributions in the Galactic disk within a theoretical framework for Galactic chemical evolution which incorporates the influence of spiral arms. 1) The mean mass of oxygen ejected per core-collapse SNe (CC SNe) event (which are concentrated within spiral arms) is $\sim$0.27 M$_{\odot}$; 2) the mean mass of iron ejected by `tardy' Type Ia SNe (SNeIa; progenitors of whom are older/longer-lived stars with ages $\simgt$100 Myr and up to several Gyr, which do not concentrate within spiral arms) is $\sim$0.58 M$_{\odot}$; 3) the upper mass of iron ejected by prompt SNeIa (SNe whose progenitors are younger/shorter-lived stars with ages $\simlt$100 Myr, which are concentrated within spiral arms) is $\leq$0.23 M$_{\odot}$ per event; 4) the corresponding mean mass of iron produced by CC SNe is $\leq$0.04 M$_{\odot}$ per event; (v) short-lived SNe (core-collapse or prompt SNeIa) supply $\sim$85% of the Galactic disk's iron. The inferred low mean mass of oxygen ejected per CC SNe event implies a low upper mass limit for the corresponding progenitors of $\sim$23 M$_{\odot}$, otherwise the Galactic disk would be overabundant in oxygen. The low mean mass of iron ejected by prompt SNeIa, relative to the mass produced by tardy SNeIa ($\sim$2.5 times lower), prejudices the idea that both sub-populations of SNeIa have the same physical nature. We suggest that, perhaps, prompt SNeIa are more akin to CC SNe, and discuss the implications of such a suggestion.