Constraining the CSM structure and progenitor mass-loss history of interacting supernovae through 3D hydrodynamic modeling: The case of SN 2014C

TL;DR

This study uses 3D hydrodynamic modeling to analyze SN 2014C, revealing a dense toroidal CSM formed by intense mass loss from the progenitor star, and constraining its mass-loss history and binary interaction scenario.

Contribution

It provides a detailed 3D model linking the supernova remnant's structure and spectra to the progenitor's mass-loss history and binary evolution, a novel comprehensive approach.

Findings

Identified a dense toroidal CSM extending from 4.3×10^{16} to 1.5×10^{17} cm.

Reproduced X-ray spectra, including Fe K line, self-consistently from shocked ejecta.

Estimated the progenitor's mass-loss rate and total ejected mass before collapse.

Abstract

We investigate SN 2014C using three-dimensional hydrodynamic modeling, focusing on its early interaction with dense circumstellar medium (CSM). Our objective is to uncover the pre-supernova (SN) CSM structure and constrain the progenitor star's mass-loss history prior to core collapse. Our comprehensive model traces the evolution from the progenitor star through the SN event and into the SN remnant (SNR) phase. We simulate the remnant's expansion over approximately 15 years, incorporating a CSM derived from the progenitor star's outflows through dedicated hydrodynamic simulations. Analysis reveals that the remnant interacted with a dense toroidal nebula extending from $4.3\times 10^{16}\,$cm to $1.5\times 10^{17}$ cm in the equatorial plane, with a thickness of approximately $1.2\times 10^{17}$ cm. The nebula's density peaks at approximately $3\times 10^6\,$cm$^{-3}$ at the inner boundary, gradually decreasing as $\approx r^{-2}$ at greater distances. This nebula formed due to intense mass-loss from the progenitor star between approximately 5000 and 1000 years before collapse. During this period, the maximum mass-loss rate reached about $8\times 10^{-4}\,M_{\odot}\,$yr$^{-1}$, ejecting $\approx 2.5\,M_{\odot}$ of stellar material into the CSM. Our model accurately reproduces Chandra and NuSTAR spectra, including the Fe K line, throughout the remnant's evolution. Notably, the Fe line is self-consistently reproduced, originating from shocked ejecta, with $\approx 0.05\,M_{\odot}$ of pure-Fe ejecta shocked during the remnant-nebula interaction. These findings suggest that the 3D geometry and density distribution of the CSM, as well as the progenitor star's mass-loss history, align with a scenario where the star was stripped through binary interaction, specifically common envelope evolution.