Binary Evolution and the Progenitor of SN 1987A

TL;DR

This paper reviews how binary star interactions influence the evolution and explosion of massive stars, highlighting their role in explaining the unique features of SN 1987A through a binary merger scenario.

Contribution

It presents a detailed analysis of binary evolution effects on supernova progenitors, specifically proposing a binary merger explanation for SN 1987A's peculiar characteristics.

Findings

Binary interactions significantly alter supernova progenitor structures.

The proposed binary merger scenario explains SN 1987A's anomalies.

Binary evolution is crucial for understanding supernova diversity.

Abstract

Since the majority of massive stars are members of binary systems, an understanding of the intricacies of binary interactions is essential for understanding the large variety of supernova types and sub-types. I therefore briefly review the basic elements of binary evolution theory and discuss how binary interactions affect the presupernova structure of massive stars and the resulting supernovae. SN 1987A was a highly anomalous supernova, almost certainly because of a previous binary interaction. The most likely scenario at present is that the progenitor was a member of a massive close binary that experienced dynamical mass transfer during its second red-supergiant phase and merged completely with its companion as a consequence. This can naturally explain the three main anomalies of SN 1987A: the blue color of the progenitor, the chemical anomalies and the complex triple-ring nebula.