# Evolution of ONeMg Core in Super-AGB Stars towards Electron-Capture Supernovae: Effects of Updated Electron-Capture Rate

## TL;DR

This study investigates how updated electron-capture rates influence the evolution and fate of ONeMg cores in super-AGB stars, suggesting a likely collapse into a neutron star rather than explosion.

## Contribution

It introduces the latest electron-capture rates into stellar evolution models and examines their impact on core collapse versus explosion outcomes.

## Key findings

- Updated electron-capture rates affect core evolution.
- Convection influences the density at oxygen ignition.
- High central density favors core collapse.

## Abstract

Stars with $\sim 8-10~{M}_{\odot}$ evolve to form a strongly degenerate ONeMg core. When the core mass becomes close to the Chandrasekhar mass, the core undergoes electron captures on $^{24}$Mg and $^{20}$Ne, which induce the electron-capture supernova (ECSN). In order to clarify whether the ECSN leads to a collapse or thermonuclear explosion, we calculate the evolution of an $8.4~M_\odot$ star from the main sequence until the oxygen ignition in the ONeMg core. We apply the latest electron-capture rate on $^{20}$Ne including the second forbidden transition, and investigate how the location of the oxygen ignition (center or off-center) and the $Y_e$ distribution depend on the input physics and the treatment of the semiconvection and convection. The central density when the oxygen deflagration is initiated, $\rho_{\rm c,def}$, can be significantly higher than that of the oxygen ignition thanks to the convection, and we estimate $\log_{10}(\rho_{\rm c,def}/\mathrm{g~cm^{-3}})>10.10$. We perform two-dimensional simulations of the flame propagation to examine how the final fate of the ONeMg core depends on the $Y_e$ distribution and $\rho_{\rm c,def}$. We find that the deflagration starting from $\log_{10}(\rho_{\rm c,def}/\mathrm{g~cm^{-3}})>10.01 (< 10.01)$ leads to a collapse (thermonuclear explosion). Since our estimate of $\rho_{\rm c,def}$ exceeds this critical value, the ONeMg core is likely to collapse, although further studies of the convection and semiconvection before the deflagration are important.