Core-Collapse Supernovae from 9 to 120 Solar Masses Based on Neutrino-powered Explosions

TL;DR

This study models core-collapse supernovae from 9 to 120 solar masses using a neutrino-powered explosion approach, analyzing nucleosynthesis, light curves, and remnant masses with calibrated energy outputs.

Contribution

It introduces a calibrated one-dimensional neutrino transport model for supernova explosions, linking progenitor structure to explosion outcomes and remnant properties.

Findings

Many extended-core progenitors do not explode and form black holes.

Nucleosynthesis results align with solar abundances when including Type Ia contributions.

Average neutron star mass is around 1.4 solar masses.

Abstract

Nucleosynthesis, light curves, explosion energies, and remnant masses are calculated for a grid of supernovae resulting from massive stars with solar metallicity and masses from 9.0 to 120 solar masses. The full evolution is followed using an adaptive reaction network of up to 2000 nuclei. A novel aspect of the survey is the use of a one-dimensional neutrino transport model for the explosion. This explosion model has been calibrated to give the observed energy for SN 1987A, using several standard progenitors, and for the Crab supernova using a 9.6 solar mass progenitor. As a result of using a calibrated central engine, the final kinetic energy of the supernova is variable and sensitive to the structure of the presupernova star. Many progenitors with extended core structures do not explode, but become black holes, and the masses of exploding stars do not form a simply connected set. The resulting nucleosynthesis agrees reasonably well with the sun provided that a reasonable contribution from Type Ia supernovae is also allowed, but with a deficiency of light s-process isotopes. The resulting neutron star IMF has a mean gravitational mass near 1.4 solar masses. The average black hole mass is about 9 solar masses if only the helium core implodes, and 14 solar masses if the entire presupernova star collapses. Only ~10% of supernovae come from stars over 20 solar masses and some of these are Type Ib or Ic. Some useful systematics of Type IIp light curves are explored.