Strong Evidence Against A Non-Degenerate Companion in SN 2012cg

TL;DR

This study presents multiple observational constraints on SN 2012cg, strongly arguing against the presence of a non-degenerate companion star in its progenitor system.

Contribution

It provides new high-quality spectral, X-ray, and imaging data that collectively rule out a non-degenerate companion for SN 2012cg, clarifying its progenitor nature.

Findings

Upper limit on low-velocity, solar-abundance material < 7.8e-3 M_sun

Preexplosion mass-loss rate < 1e-6 M_sun/yr

Companion radius < 0.24 R_sun

Abstract

Even though SN 2012cg is one of the best-studied Type Ia Supernovae to date, the nature of its progenitor system has been debated in numerous studies. Specifically, it is difficult to reconcile recent claims of the detection of a $\sim 6 \rm{M}_\odot$ main-sequence companion with recent deep, late-time H$\alpha{}$ flux limits. In this study we add three new constraints: 1) We analyze new high-signal-to-noise, nebular-phase, LBT/MODS spectrum of SN 2012cg and place an upper limit on the amount of low-velocity, solar-abundance material removed from a possible companion of $ < 7.8 \times 10^{-3} \rm{M}_\odot$. 2) We use Swift X-ray observations to constrain the preexplosion mass-loss rate to be $\dot M<10^{-6}\,$ $\rm{M}_\odot$ yr$^{-1}$ for $v_\textrm{w}=100\,\rm{km\,s^{-1}}$. 3) We carefully reanalyze a prediscovery MASTER image and, with published light curves of SN 2012cg, we estimate the time of first light and conservatively constrain the radius of a Roche-lobe overflowing companion to be $< 0.24 \rm{R}_\odot$. These observations disagree with a large nearby companion, and, when considered with other studies of SN 2012cg's progenitor system, essentially rule out a non-degenerate companion.