Research

Physical Sciences

Title :

Probing the progenitor system of type I supernovae

Area of research :

Physical Sciences

Focus area :

Astrophysics

Principal Investigator :

Dr. Mridweeka singh, Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore, Karnataka

Timeline Start Year :

2024

Timeline End Year :

2026

Contact info :

Details

Executive Summary :

Type Iax supernovae (sNe) are low-luminous cousins of type Ia sNe and are known as members of the few parameter family. The identification of the exact progenitor channel is an open question for type Iax sNe. One plausible explanation is an incomplete burning of the white dwarf (WD), leading to a bound remnant. Analysis of sNe such as sNe 2014dt, 2018cni, 2020kyg, 2020rea, and 2020udy has explored evidence for the bound remnant theory. Late-time monitoring of suitable sNe using bigger telescopes will be useful in detecting the remnant and constraining the progenitor system and explosion scenario. The deflagration of a Carbon-Oxygen WD explains most of the properties of bright type Iax sNe, while fainter members show consistency with the explosion of a hybrid Carbon-Oxygen-Neon WD. Early photometric and spectroscopic follow-up of these rare transients will help explore possible heterogeneity within this class. The discovery of more faint type Iax sNe provides an opportunity to check whether luminous and faint type Iax events prefer any specific metallicity trend. Late nebular phase observations will be used to probe the nature of the progenitor and validate the early proposed classification.

Total Budget (INR):

Organizations involved