Parameters of the type-IIP supernova SN 2012aw

TL;DR

This study models the parameters of supernova SN 2012aw using photometric data and hydrodynamic simulations, revealing a progenitor mass exceeding observational limits, thus highlighting the 'Red Supergiant Problem'.

Contribution

First detailed hydrodynamic modeling of SN 2012aw that estimates progenitor parameters and addresses the discrepancy in progenitor mass.

Findings

Progenitor radius ~500 R_sun

Nickel mass ~0.06 M_sun

Explosion energy ~2 x 10^{51} erg

Abstract

We present the results the photometric observations of the Type IIP supernova SN 2012aw obtained for the time interval from 7 till 371 days after the explosion. Using the previously published values of the photospheric velocities we've computed the hydrodynamic model which simultaneously reproduced the photometry observations and velocity measurements. The model was calculated with the multi-energy group radiation hydrodynamics code STELLA. We found the parameters of the pre-supernova: radius $R = 500 R_\odot$, nickel mass $M(^{56}$Ni$)$ $\sim 0.06 M_\odot$, pre-supernova mass $25 M_\odot$, mass of ejected envelope $23.6 M_\odot$, explosion energy $E \sim 2 \times 10^{51}$ erg. The model progenitor mass $M=25 M_\odot$ significantly exceeds the upper limit mass $M=17 M_\odot$, obtained from analysis the pre-SNe observations. This result confirms once more that the 'Red Supergiant Problem' must be resolved by stellar evolution and supernova explosion theories in interaction with observations.