Explosions of Thorne-Zytkow objects

TL;DR

This paper proposes that massive Thorne-Zytkow objects can undergo explosions due to accretion-induced collapse, potentially resulting in observable supernovae or failed supernovae, and contributing to heavy element nucleosynthesis.

Contribution

It introduces a novel explosion mechanism for massive Thorne-Zytkow objects driven by super-Eddington accretion and neutron core collapse, expanding understanding of stellar explosions.

Findings

Explosion energies range from ~10^47 to ~10^52 erg.

Ejecta mass is approximately 10 solar masses.

Potential to explain certain types of supernovae and element distribution.

Abstract

We propose that massive Thorne-Zytkow objects can explode. A Thorne-Zytkow object is a theoretically predicted star that has a neutron core. When nuclear reactions supporting a massive Thorne-Zytkow object terminate, a strong accretion occurs towards the central neutron core. The accretion rate is large enough to sustain a super-Eddington accretion towards the neutron core. The neutron core may collapse to a black hole after a while. A strong large-scale outflow or a jet can be launched from the super-Eddington accretion disk and the collapsing Thorne-Zytkow object can be turned into an explosion. The ejecta have about 10 Msun but the explosion energy depends on when the accretion is suppressed. We presume that the explosion energy could be as low as ~ 1e47 erg and such a low-energy explosion could be observed like a failed supernova. The maximum possible explosion energy is ~ 1e52 erg and such a high-energy explosion could be observed as an energetic Type II supernova or a superluminous supernova. Explosions of Thorne-Zytkow objects may provide a new path to spread lithium and other heavy elements produced through the irp process such as molybdenum in the Universe.