Estimating Ejecta Mass Ratios in Kepler's SNR: Global X-Ray Spectral Analysis Including Suzaku Systematics and Emitting Volume Uncertainties

TL;DR

This study uses Suzaku X-Ray spectral analysis of Kepler's supernova remnant, accounting for calibration and volume uncertainties, to estimate ejecta mass ratios and compare them with supernova models, constraining progenitor scenarios.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive method that includes calibration and volume uncertainties in spectral analysis to estimate supernova ejecta mass ratios.

Findings

Mass ratios suggest a need for a ~90% attenuated $^{12}$C$+^{16}$O reaction rate.

Results are consistent with near- and sub-M$_{ m Ch}$ progenitors.

Findings are inconsistent with the stable double detonation scenario.

Abstract

The exact origins of many Type Ia supernovae$\unicode{x2013}$progenitor scenarios and explosive mechanisms$\unicode{x2013}$remain uncertain. In this work, we analyze the global Suzaku X-Ray spectrum of Kepler's supernova remnant in order to constrain mass ratios of various ejecta species synthesized during explosion. Critically, we account for the Suzaku telescope effective area calibration uncertainties of 5$\unicode{x2013}$20% by generating 100 mock effective area curves and using Markov Chain Monte Carlo based spectral fitting to produce 100 sets of best-fit parameter values. Additionally, we characterize the uncertainties from assumptions made about the emitting volumes of each model plasma component: finding that these uncertainties can be the dominant source of error. We then compare our calculated mass ratios to previous observational studies of Kepler's SNR and to the predictions of SN Ia simulations. Our mass ratio estimates require a $\sim$90% attenuated $^{12}$C$+^{16}$O reaction rate and are potentially consistent with both near- and sub-M$_{\rm Ch}$ progenitors, but are inconsistent with the dynamically stable double detonation origin scenario and only marginally consistent with the dynamically unstable dynamically-driven double-degenerate double detonation (D$^6$) scenario.