Model Light Curves for Type Ib and Ic Supernovae

TL;DR

This paper models light curves of Type Ib and Ic supernovae from helium star progenitors using Monte Carlo simulations, comparing results with observations and exploring diverse transient phenomena.

Contribution

It introduces detailed supernova models from helium star progenitors and compares simulated light curves with observed supernovae, highlighting discrepancies and potential new transient types.

Findings

Models reproduce many observed properties of Type Ib and Ic supernovae.

Simulated peak luminosities are generally fainter than some observed supernovae.

Lower and higher mass helium stars produce diverse transient phenomena.

Abstract

Using the Monte Carlo code, SEDONA, multiband photometry and spectra are calculated for supernovae derived from stripped helium stars with presupernova masses from 2.2 to 10.0 $M_\odot$. The models are representative of evolution in close binaries and have previously been exploded using a parametrized one-dimensional model for neutrino-transport. A subset, those with presupernova masses in the range 2.2 - 5.6 $M_\odot$, have many properties in common with observed Type Ib and Ic supernovae, including a median ejected mass near 2 $M_\odot$, explosion energies near $1 \times 10^{51}$ erg, typical $^{56}$Ni masses 0.07 - 0.09 $M_\odot$, peak times of about 20 days, and a narrow range for the $V$-$R$ color index 10 days post $V$-maximum near 0.3 mag. The median peak bolometric luminosity, near 10$^{42.3}$ erg s$^{-1}$, is fainter, however, than for several observational tabulations and the brightest explosion has a bolometric luminosity of only 10$^{42.50}$ erg s$^{-1}$. The brightest absolute $B$, $V$, and $R$ magnitudes at peak are $-17.2$, $-17.8$, and $-18.0$. These limits are fainter than some allegedly typical Type Ib and Ic supernovae and could reflect problems in our models or the observational analysis. Helium stars with lower and higher masses also produce interesting transients that may have been observed including fast, faint, blue transients and long, red, faint Type Ic supernovae. New models are specifically presented for SN 2007Y, SN 2007gr, SN 2009jf, LSQ13abf, SN 2008D, and SN 2010X.