Ruling out a massive asymptotic giant-branch star as the progenitor of supernova 2005cs

John Eldridge, Seppo Mattila, Stephen Smartt

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

51 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We calculate the predicted UBVRIJHK absolute magnitudes for models of supernova progenitors and apply the result to the case of supernova 2005cs. We agree with previous results that the initial mass of the star was low, around 6 to 8 M-circle dot. However, such stars are thought to go through a second dredge-up to become asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. We show that had this occurred to the progenitor of 2005cs it would have been observed in JHK pre-explosion images. The progenitor was not detected in these bands and therefore we conclude that it was not an AGB star. Furthermore, if some AGB stars do produce supernovae they will have a clear signature in pre-explosion near-infrared images. Electron-capture supernovae are thought to occur in AGB stars, hence the implication is that 2005cs was not an electron-capture supernova but was the collapse of an iron core.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)L52-L56
Number of pages5
JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume376
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2007

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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