Evidence for Type Ib/c origin of the supernova remnant G292.0+1.8

TL;DR

This study uses X-ray spectroscopy to analyze the supernova remnant G292.0+1.8, providing evidence that it originated from a Type Ib/c supernova due to strong stellar mass-loss and binary interactions.

Contribution

The paper presents the first detection of N VII Lyα line in G292.0+1.8 and links low N/O ratio to a Wolf-Rayet progenitor, supporting a Type Ib/c supernova origin.

Findings

Detection of N VII Lyα line in G292.0+1.8.

Low N/O ratio indicating Wolf-Rayet progenitor.

Evidence supporting a stripped-envelope supernova origin.

Abstract

Circumstellar material (CSM) produced by mass loss from massive stars ($\gtrsim10 M_{\odot}$) through strong stellar winds or binary stripping provides rich information for understanding progenitors of core-collapse supernova remnants. In this paper we present a grating spectroscopy of a Galactic SNR G292.0+1.8, which is claimed to be a Type Ib/c remnant in a binary system according to recent studies. If G292.0+1.8 was experienced a strong mass-loss via binary interactions before its explosion, an oxygen-rich material produced in the He-burning layer is expected to be observed in the central belt-like structure formed by shock-heated CSM. Using the Reflection Grating Spectrometer onboard XMM-Newton, we detect N VII Ly$\alpha$ line (0.50 keV) for the first time in G292.0+1.8 and find that the abundance ratio of nitrogen to oxygen is significantly lower (N/O$=0.5\pm0.1$) than the solar value. This low N/O suggests that the progenitor of experienced strong mass-loss and ended up to a Wolf-Rayet (WR) star exposing the He-burning layer at the pre-supernova. Comparing our result and the evolution models of single stars and binaries, we conclude that the progenitor of G292.0+1.8 experienced strong mass-loss enough to occur a Type Ib/c supernova. Our finding is another crucial piece of evidence for a stripped-envelope supernova such as Type Ib/c as the origin of G292.0+1.8.