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The 12C+12C reaction rate plays an essential role in stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis. Nevertheless, the uncertainties of this reaction rate are still large. We calculate a series of stellar evolution models with the near solar abundance from the zero-age main-sequence through presupernova stages for initial masses of 20 M to 40 M . The 12C+12C reaction rates from two different studies are used in our investigation. One is the rate obtained using the Trojan Horse Method (THM) by Tumino et al. [Nature 557(7707), 687 (2018)], and the other was obtained by Mukhamedzhanov et al. [Physical Review C 99(6), 064618 (2019)] (Muk19). Then, comparisons of the nucleosynthesis and presupernova isotopic abundances are conducted. In particular, we find that in the C burning shell, models with the THM produce a smaller amount of 23Na and some neutron-rich isotopes than Muk19. The difference in the abundance ratios of Na/Mg, S/Mg, Ar/Mg, and K/Mg between the two models are apparent. We compare Na/Mg obtained from our theoretical presupernovae models with Na/Mg in stellar atmospheres observed with high-resolution spectra as well as from the latest galactic chemical evolution model. Although Na/Mg obtained using the THM is within 2σ of the observed stellar ratio, the theoretical uncertainty on Na/Mg introduced by the uncertainty of the 12C+12C reaction rate is almost equivalent to the standard deviation of astronomical observations. Therefore, a more accurate 12C+12C reaction rate is crucial.

G306.3$-$0.9 is an asymmetric Galactic supernova remnant (SNR), whose progenitor has been thought to be a Type Ia supernova (SN), but its high Ca abundance appears inconsistent with the Type Ia origin. Hoping to uncover the reason for its asymmetry and the origin of this SNR, we performed a spatially resolved X-ray spectroscopic analysis of XMM-Newton and Chandra observation data. We divided the SNR into 13 regions and analyzed the spectra using two-temperature models (0.2 keV + 1 keV). Compared to the southwestern regions, the northeastern regions have higher metal abundances and a lower gas density. This suggests that the asymmetric morphology results from the non-uniform ambient environment. We found that neither Type Ia nor core-collapse SN models can account for the abnormally high abundance ratios of Ar/Si, Ca/Si, or the shape of the abundance curve. A comparison with the Ca-rich transient models shows that G306.3$-$0.9 is likely to be the first identified Galactic "Ca-rich transient" remnant, although the theoretical production of element S is lower. We also note that the conclusion for the SNR's origin relies on the measured abundance ratios and existing nucleosynthesis models. Between two groups of Ca-rich transient explosion models, we prefer the He shell detonation for an accreting WD, rather than the merger of a white dwarf and a neutron star., Comment: 21 pages, 10 figures. Accepted to ApJ

Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) play a crucial role as standardizable candles in measurements of the Hubble constant and dark energy. Increasing evidence points towards multiple possible explosion channels as the origin of normal SNe Ia, with possible systematic effects on the determination of cosmological parameters. We present, for the first time, a comprehensive comparison of publicly-available SN Ia model nucleosynthetic data with observations of late-time light curve observations of SN Ia events. These models span a wide range of white dwarf (WD) progenitor masses, metallicities, explosion channels, and numerical methodologies. We focus on the influence of $^{57}$Ni and its isobaric decay product $^{57}$Co in powering the late-time ($t > 1000$ d) light curves of SNe Ia. $^{57}$Ni and $^{57}$Co are neutron-rich relative to the more abundant radioisotope $^{56}$Ni, and are consequently a sensitive probe of neutronization at the higher densities of near-Chandrashekhar (near-$M_{\rm Ch}$) progenitor WDs. We demonstrate that observations of one SN Ia event, SN 2015F is only consistent with a sub-$M_{\rm Ch}$ WD progenitor. Observations of four other events (SN 2011fe, SN 2012cg, SN 2014J, SN2013aa) are consistent with both near-$M_{\rm Ch}$ and sub-$M_{\rm Ch}$ progenitors. Continued observations of late-time light curves of nearby SNe Ia will provide crucial information on the nature of the SN Ia progenitors., 13 pages, 5 figures, 3 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRAS. Comments welcome!

In this Letter we report a discovery of a prominent flash of a peculiar overluminous Type Ia supernova, SN 2020hvf, in about 5 hours of the supernova explosion by the first wide-field mosaic CMOS sensor imager, the Tomo-e Gozen Camera. The fast evolution of the early flash was captured by intensive intranight observations via the Tomo-e Gozen high-cadence survey. Numerical simulations show that such a prominent and fast early emission is most likely generated from an interaction between $0.01~M_{\odot}$ circumstellar material (CSM) extending to a distance of $\sim$$10^{13}~\text{cm}$ and supernova ejecta soon after the explosion, indicating a confined dense CSM formation at the final evolution stage of the progenitor of SN 2020hvf. Based on the CSM-ejecta interaction-induced early flash, the overluminous light curve, and the high ejecta velocity of SN 2020hvf, we suggest that the SN 2020hvf may originate from a thermonuclear explosion of a super-Chandrasekhar-mass white dwarf ("super-$M\rm_{Ch}$ WD"). Systematical investigations on explosion mechanisms and hydrodynamic simulations of the super-$M\rm_{Ch}$ WD explosion are required to further test the suggested scenario and understand the progenitor of this peculiar supernova., 20pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Letters

Motivated by the determination of black hole masses with gravitational-wave observations, we calculate the evolution of massive stars through presupernova stages and obtain the mass distribution of black holes. In the first part, we calculate the evolution of He stars with masses of 30–120 M ⊙. We study in detail how convective carbon shell burning controls pair-instability pulsations before and during oxygen burning and determine their final fates. In the second part, we calculate the evolution of H-rich stars with initial masses of 13–80 M ⊙ until Fe core collapse and obtain the possible black hole mass range by applying the criterion of the compactness parameters. From these models, we predict the mass distribution of black holes for stars that undergo Fe core collapse and pair-instability pulsation. The predicted masses for black holes range from 4.2 to 46 M ⊙, which are consistent with the gravitational-wave observations.

In the transitional mass range (~8–10 solar masses) between white dwarf formation and iron core-collapse supernovae, stars are expected to produce an electron-capture supernova. Theoretically, these progenitors are thought to be super-asymptotic giant branch stars with a degenerate O + Ne + Mg core, and electron capture onto Ne and Mg nuclei should initiate core collapse1–4. However, no supernovae have unequivocally been identified from an electron-capture origin, partly because of uncertainty in theoretical predictions. Here we present six indicators of electron-capture supernovae and show that supernova 2018zd is the only known supernova with strong evidence for or consistent with all six: progenitor identification, circumstellar material, chemical composition5–7, explosion energy, light curve and nucleosynthesis8–12. For supernova 2018zd, we infer a super-asymptotic giant branch progenitor based on the faint candidate in the pre-explosion images and the chemically enriched circumstellar material revealed by the early ultraviolet colours and flash spectroscopy. The light-curve morphology and nebular emission lines can be explained by the low explosion energy and neutron-rich nucleosynthesis produced in an electron-capture supernova. This identification provides insights into the complex stellar evolution, supernova physics, cosmic nucleosynthesis and remnant populations in the transitional mass range. Electron-capture supernovae are thought to come from progenitors with a narrow range of masses, and thus they are rare. Here the authors present six indicators of an electron-capture supernova origin, and find that supernova 2018zd fulfils all six criteria., Instituto de Astrofísica de La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísicas

All ten LIGO/Virgo binary black hole (BH-BH) coalescences reported from the O1/O2 runs have near zero effective spins. There are only three potential explanations of this fact. If the BH spin magnitudes are large then (i) either both BH spin vectors must be nearly in the orbital plane or (ii) the spin angular momenta of the BHs must be oppositely directed and similar in magnitude. Or, (iii) the BH spin magnitudes are small. We test the third hypothesis within the framework of the classical isolated binary evolution scenario of the BH-BH merger formation. We test three models of angular momentum transport in massive stars: a mildly efficient transport by meridional currents (as employed in the Geneva code), an efficient transport by the Tayler-Spruit magnetic dynamo (as implemented in the MESA code), and a very-efficient transport (as proposed by Fuller et al.) to calculate natal BH spins. We allow for binary evolution to increase the BH spins through accretion and account for the potential spin-up of stars through tidal interactions. Additionally, we update the calculations of the stellar-origin BH masses, include revisions to the history of star formation and to the chemical evolution across cosmic time. We find that we can match simultaneously the observed BH-BH merger rate density, BH masses, and effective spins. Models with efficient angular momentum transport are favored. The updated stellar-mass weighted gas-phase metallicity evolution now used in our models appears to be a key in better reproducing the LIGO/Virgo merger rate estimate. Mass losses during the pair-instability pulsation supernova phase are likely overestimated if the merger GW170729 hosts a BH more massive than 50 Msun. We also estimate rate of BH-NS mergers from recent LIGO/Virgo observations. Our updated models of BH-BH, BH-NS and NS-NS mergers are now publicly available at www.syntheticuniverse.org., Comment: A&A accepted: revised comparison with LIGO/Virgo (41 pages)

9 pags., 5 figs., 3 tabs., In this Letter, we report the discovery of an ultraluminous fast-evolving transient in rest-frame UV wavelengths, MUSSES2020J, soon after its occurrence by using the Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) mounted on the 8.2 m Subaru telescope. The rise time of about 5 days with an extremely high UV peak luminosity shares similarities to a handful of fast blue optical transients whose peak luminosities are comparable with the most luminous supernovae while their timescales are significantly shorter (hereafter "fast blue ultraluminous transient,"FBUT). In addition, MUSSES2020J is located near the center of a normal low-mass galaxy at a redshift of 1.063, suggesting a possible connection between the energy source of MUSSES2020J and the central part of the host galaxy. Possible physical mechanisms powering this extreme transient such as a wind-driven tidal disruption event and an interaction between supernova and circumstellar material are qualitatively discussed based on the first multiband early-phase light curve of FBUTs, although whether the scenarios can quantitatively explain the early photometric behavior of MUSSES2020J requires systematical theoretical investigations. Thanks to the ultrahigh luminosity in UV and blue optical wavelengths of these extreme transients, a promising number of FBUTs from the local to the high-z universe can be discovered through deep wide-field optical surveys in the near future., This work has been supported by the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI) and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI grants JP18J12714, JP19K23456, and JP22K14069 (J.J.), JP16H01087 and JP18H04342 (J.J. and M.D.), JP18H05223 (J.J., K.M., M.D., and T.S.), JP20H00174 and JP20H04737 (K. M.), JP15H02082, JP16H06341, and JP16K05287 (T.S.), JP19H00694, JP20H00158, and JP20H00179 (M.T.), JP17K05382, JP20K04024, and JP21H04499 (K.N.). D.J. acknowledges support from the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union under grant No. 2020-1-CZ01-KA203-078200.

What the progenitors of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) are, whether they are near-Chandrasekhar mass or sub-Chandrasekhar mass white dwarfs, has been the matter of debate for decades. Various observational hints are supporting both models as the main progenitors. In this paper, we review the explosion physics and the chemical abundance patterns of SNe Ia from these two classes of progenitors. We will discuss how the observational data of SNe Ia, their remnants, the Milky Way Galaxy, and galactic clusters can help us to determine the essential features where numerical models of SNe Ia need to match., Comment: Review article for the Sixteenth Marcel Grossmann Meeting Proceeding, accepted for publication. 20 pages, 24 figures

Stellar and supernova nucleosynthesis in the first few billion years of the cosmic history have set the scene for early structure formation in the Universe, while little is known about their nature. Making use of stellar physical parameters measured by GALAH Data Release 3 with accurate astrometry from the Gaia EDR3, we have selected $\sim 100$ old main-sequence turn-off stars (ages $\gtrsim 12$ Gyrs) with kinematics compatible with the Milky Way stellar halo population in the Solar neighborhood. Detailed homogeneous elemental abundance estimates by GALAH DR3 are compared with supernova yield models of Pop~III (zero-metal) core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe), normal (non-zero-metal) CCSNe, and Type Ia supernovae (SN Ia) to examine which of the individual yields or their combinations best reproduce the observed elemental abundance patterns for each of the old halo stars ("OHS"). We find that the observed abundances in the OHS with [Fe/H]$>-1.5$ are best explained by contributions from both CCSNe and SN~Ia, where the fraction of SN~Ia among all the metal-enriching SNe is up to 10-20 % for stars with high [Mg/Fe] ratios and up to 20-27 % for stars with low [Mg/Fe] ratios, depending on the assumption about the relative fraction of near-Chandrasekhar-mass SNe Ia progenitors. The results suggest that, in the progenitor systems of the OHS with [Fe/H]$>-1.5$, $\sim$ 50-60% of Fe mass originated from normal CCSNe at the earliest phases of the Milky Way formation. These results provide an insight into the birth environments of the oldest stars in the Galactic halo., 21 pages, 16 Figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS

Some supernovae such as pair-instability supernovae are predicted to have the duration of more than a year in the observer frame. To constrain the rates of supernovae lasting for more than a year, we conducted a long-term deep transient survey using Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) on the 8.2m Subaru telescope. HSC is a wide-field (a 1.75 deg2 field-of-view) camera and it can efficiently conduct transient surveys. We observed the same 1.75 deg2 field repeatedly using the g, r, i, and z band filters with the typical depth of 26 mag for 4 seasons (from late 2016 to early 2020). Using these data, we searched for transients lasting for more than a year. Two supernovae were detected in 2 continuous seasons, one supernova was detected in 3 continuous seasons, but no transients lasted for all 4 seasons searched. The discovery rate of supernovae lasting for more than a year with the typical limiting magnitudes of 26 mag is constrained to be 1.4^{+1.3}_{-0.7}(stat.)^{+0.2}_{-0.3}(sys.) events deg-2 yr-1. All the long-lasting supernovae we found are likely Type IIn supernovae and our results indicate that about 40% of Type IIn supernovae have long-lasting light curves. No plausible pair-instability supernova candidates lasting for more than a year are discovered. By comparing the survey results and survey simulations, we constrain the luminous pair-instability supernova rate up to z ~ 3 should be of the order of 100 Gpc-3 yr-1 at most, which is 0.01 - 0.1 per cent of the core-collapse supernova rate., 18 pages, 9 figures, 6 tables, accepted by The Astrophysical Journal

To date no metal-free stars have been identified by direct observations. The most common method of constraining their properties is searching the spectra of the most metal-poor stars for the chemical elements created in the first stars and their supernova. In this approach, modelled supernova yields are compared to the observed abundance patterns in extremely metal-poor stars. The method typically only uses the abundance ratios, i.e., the yields are diluted to the observed level. Following the usual assumption of spherical symmetry we compute a simple lower limit of the mass a supernova can mix with and find that it is consistent with all published simulations of early chemical enrichment in the interstellar medium. For three different cases, we demonstrate that this dilution limit can change the conclusions from the abundance fitting. There is a large discrepancy between the dilution found in simulations of SN explosions in minihaloes and the dilution assumed in many abundance fits. Limiting the dilution can significantly alter the likelihood of which supernovae are possible progenitors of observed CEMP-no stars. In particular, some of the faint, very low-yield SNe, which have been suggested as models for the abundance pattern of SMSS0313-6708, cannot explain the measured metal abundances, as their predicted metal yields are too small by two orders of magnitude. Altogether, the new dilution model presented here emphasizes the need to better understand the mixing and dilution behaviour of aspherical SNe., 10 pages, 6 figures, submitted to MNRAS

We have proposed a short-lived radioisotope 98Tc as the nuclear cosmochronometer to evaluate the time from the last supernova neutirno-process to the solar system formation (SSF). We have calculated the supernova neutirno-process using a SN 1987A model with neutrino-induced reaction cross sections. The calculated result is consistent with the observed upper limit of 98Tc/98Ru at the SSF.

The neutrino process ($\nu$-process) for the production of 7Li and 11B in core-collapse supernovae (SNe) is extensively investigated. Initial abundances of s-nuclei and other physical conditions are derived from an updated calculation of the SN 1987A progenitor. The nuclear reaction network including neutrino reactions is constructed with the variable order Bader-Deuflhard integration method. We find that yields of 7Li and 11B significantly depend on the stellar metallicity while they are independent of the weak s-process during the stellar evolution. When the metallicity is high, there are more neutron absorbers, i.e., 56Fe, 14N (from initial CNO nuclei), and 54Fe, and the neutron abundance is small during the $\nu$-process. Since 7Be is predominantly destroyed via 7Be(n,p)7Li, a change in the neutron abundance results in different 7Be yields. Then, the calculated yield ratio 7Li/11B=0.93 for the solar metallicity is larger than that for the SN 1987A 7Li/11B=0.80 by 16 % in the inverted mass hierarchy case. We analyze contributions of respective reactions as well as abundance evolution, and clarify the $\nu$-process of 7Li and 11B.

Variations of fundamental physical constants have been sought for many years using various astronomical objects because their discovery can be key to developing beyond-standard physics. In particular, nuclear reaction rates are sensitive to fundamental constants, so nucleosynthetic processes can be used as a probe. We calculate the evolution and nucleosynthesis of massive Population III stars with the time-dependent nucleon&ndash, nucleon interaction &delta, NN , which may have left traces in elemental abundances in extremely metal-poor stars. The results are compared with the abundances in the most iron-poor star that has ever been discovered, namely, SMSS J031300.36-670839.3. It is found that calcium production in Population III stars is very sensitive to variations of the triple- &alpha, reaction rate and hence &delta, NN . We conclude that variations of the nucleon&ndash, nucleon interaction are constrained as - 0 . 002 &lt, &delta, NN &lt, 0 . 002 at the redshift z &sim, 20 , assuming that calcium in SMSS J031300.36-670839.3 originates from hydrogen burning in a massive Population III star.

We calculate the abundances of 7Li, 11B, 92Nb, 98Tc, 138La, and 180Ta produced by neutrino (ν)-induced reactions in a core-collapse supernova explosion. We consider the modification by ν self-interaction (ν-SI) near the neutrinosphere and the Mikheyev–Smirnov–Wolfenstein (MSW) effect in the outer layers based on time-dependent neutrino energy spectra. Abundances of 7Li and the heavy isotopes 92Nb, 98Tc, and 138La are reduced by a factor of 1.5–2.0 by the ν-SI. In contrast, 11B is relatively insensitive to the ν-SI. We find that the abundance ratio of heavy to light nuclei, 138La/11B, is sensitive to the neutrino mass hierarchy, and the normal mass hierarchy is more likely to be consistent with the solar meteoritic abundances.

With a booming number of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) discovered within a few days of their explosions, a fraction of SNe Ia that show luminosity excess in the early phase (early-excess SNe Ia) have been confirmed. In this article, we report early-phase observations of seven photometrically normal SNe Ia (six early detections and one deep non-detection limit) at the COSMOS field through a half-year transient survey as a part of the Hyper Suprime-Cam Subaru Strategic Program (HSC SSP). In particular, a blue light-curve excess was discovered for HSC17bmhk, a normal SN Ia with rise time longer than 18.8 days, during the first four days after the discovery. The blue early excess in optical wavelength can be explained not only by interactions with a non-degenerate companion or surrounding dense circumstellar matter but also radiation powered by radioactive decays of $^{56}$Ni at the surface of the SN ejecta. Given the growing evidence of the early-excess discoveries in normal SNe Ia that have longer rise times than the average and a similarity in the nature of the blue excess to a luminous SN Ia subclass, we infer that early excess discovered in HSC17bmhk and other normal SNe Ia are most likely attributed to radioactive $^{56}$Ni decay at the surface of the SN ejecta. In order to successfully identify normal SNe Ia with early excess similar to that of HSC17bmhk, early UV photometries or high-cadence blue-band surveys are necessary., 13 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

We present Keck/LRIS follow-up spectroscopy for 13 photometric candidates of extremely metal-poor galaxies (EMPGs) selected by a machine-learning technique applied to the deep (∼26 AB mag) optical and wide-area (∼500 deg2) Subaru imaging data in the EMPRESS survey. Nine out of the 13 candidates are EMPGs with an oxygen abundance (O/H) less than ∼10% solar value (O/H)⊙, and four sources are contaminants of moderately metal-rich galaxies or no emission-line objects. Notably, two out of the nine EMPGs have extremely low stellar masses and oxygen abundances of 5 × 104–7 × 105 M ⊙ and 2%–3% (O/H)⊙, respectively. With a sample of five EMPGs with (Fe/O) measurements, two (three) of which are taken from this study (the literature), we confirm that two EMPGs with the lowest (O/H) ratios of ∼2% (O/H)⊙ show high (Fe/O) ratios of ∼0.1, close to the solar abundance ratio. Comparing galaxy chemical enrichment models, we find that the two EMPGs cannot be explained by a scenario of metal-poor gas accretion/episodic star formation history due to their low (N/O) ratios. We conclude that the two EMPGs can be reproduced by the inclusion of bright hypernovae and/or hypothetical pair-instability supernovae (SNe) preferentially produced in a metal-poor environment. This conclusion implies that primordial galaxies at z ∼ 10 could have a high abundance of Fe that did not originate from Type Ia SNe with delays and that Fe may not serve as a cosmic clock for primordial galaxies.

The short-lived unstable isotopes with half-lives of 0.1–10 My have been used as nuclear cosmochronometers to evaluate from an astrophysical event such as supernova (SN) explosion or AGB s-process to the solar system formation. We have proposed shorted-lived radioisotopes of 92Nb and 98Tc as the nuclear cosmochronometers for supernova neutrino-process

Although Type Ia supernova cosmology has now reached a mature state, it is important to develop as many independent methods as possible to understand the true nature of dark energy. Recent studies have shown that Type II supernovae (SNe II) offer such a path and could be used as alternative distance indicators. However, the majority of these studies were unable to extend the Hubble diagram above redshift z = 0.3 because of observational limitations. Here, we show that we are now ready to move beyond low redshifts and attempt high-redshift (z ≳ 0.3) SN II cosmology as a result of new-generation deep surveys such as the Subaru/Hyper Suprime-Cam survey. Applying the "standard candle method" to SN 2016jhj (z = 0.3398 ± 0.0002; discovered by HSC) together with a low-redshift sample, we are able to construct the highest-redshift SN II Hubble diagram to date with an observed dispersion of 0.27 mag (i.e. 12-13% in distance). This work demonstrates the bright future of SN II cosmology in the coming era of large, wide-field surveys like that of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope., Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísicas, Instituto de Astrofísica de La Plata

We explore the properties of supernova (SN) "Refsdal" - the first discovered gravitationally lensed SN with multiple images. A large magnification provided by the galactic-scale lens, augmented by the cluster lens, gave us a unique opportunity to perform a detailed modelling of a distant SN at z=1.5. We present results of radiation hydrodynamics modelling of SN Refsdal. According to our calculations, the SN Refsdal progenitor is likely to be a more massive and energetic version of SN 1987A, i.e. a blue supergiant star with the following parameters: the progenitor radius $R_0 = (50 \pm 1) R_{\odot}$, the total mass $M_{tot}= (25\pm 2) M_{\odot}$, the radioactive $^{56}$Ni mass $M_{^{56}\mathrm{Ni}} = (0.26 \pm 0.05) \,M_{\odot}$, and the total energy release $E_{burst}=(4.7 \pm 0.8)\times10^{51}$ erg. Reconstruction of SN light curves allowed us to obtain time delays and magnifications for the images S2-S4 relative to S1 with higher accuracy than previous template-based estimates of Rodney \& et al. (2016). The measured time delays are $\Delta t_{S2-S1} = 9.5^{+2.6}_{-2.7} $ days, $\Delta t_{S3-S1} = 4.2^{+2.3}_{-2.3} $ days, and $\Delta t_{S4-S1} = 30^{+7.8}_{-8.2} $ days. The obtained magnification ratios are $\mu_{S2/S1}= 1.14 \pm 0.02$, $\mu_{S3/S1} = 1.01 \pm 0.02 $, and $\mu_{S4/S1} = 0.35\pm 0.02$. We estimate the Hubble constant $H_0 = 68.6^{+13.6}_{-9.7}$ km s$^{-1}$ Mpc$^{-1}$ via re-scaling the time delays predicted by different lens models to match the values obtained in this work. With more photometric data on the fifth image SX, we will be able to further refine the time delay and magnification estimates for SX and obtain competitive constraints on $H_0$., Comment: 18 pages, 10 figures, 5 tables. Accepted to ApJ

We present two-dimensional hydrodynamics simulations of near-Chandrasekhar mass white dwarf (WD) models for Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) using the turbulent deflagration model with deflagration-detonation transition (DDT). We perform a parameter survey for 41 models to study the effects of the initial central density (i.e., WD mass), metallicity, flame shape, DDT criteria, and turbulent flame formula for a much wider parameter space than earlier studies. The final isotopic abundances of $^{11}$C to $^{91}$Tc in these simulations are obtained by post-process nucleosynthesis calculations. The survey includes SNe Ia models with the central density from $5 \times 10^8$ g cm$^{-3}$ to $5 \times 10^9$ g cm$^{-3}$ (WD masses of 1.30 - 1.38 $M_\odot$), metallicity from 0 to 5 $Z_{\odot}$, C/O mass ratio from 0.3 - 1.0 and ignition kernels including centered and off-centered ignition kernels. We present the yield tables of stable isotopes from $^{12}$C to $^{70}$Zn as well as the major radioactive isotopes for 33 models. Observational abundances of $^{55}$Mn, $^{56}$Fe, $^{57}$Fe and $^{58}$Ni obtained from the solar composition, well-observed SNe Ia and SN Ia remnants are used to constrain the explosion models and the supernova progenitor. The connection between the pure turbulent deflagration model and the subluminous SNe Iax is discussed. We find that dependencies of the nucleosynthesis yields on the metallicity and the central density (WD mass) are large. To fit these observational abundances and also for the application of galactic chemical evolution modeling, these dependencies on the metallicity and WD mass should be taken into account., Comment: 53 pages, 43 figures. Accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journal. Tables and figures updated to be consistent with other works. Also table magnified for better vision

We present 3D full-sphere supernova simulations of non-rotating low-mass (~9 Msun) progenitors, covering the entire evolution from core collapse through bounce and shock revival, through shock breakout from the stellar surface, until fallback is completed several days later. We obtain low-energy explosions [~(0.5-1.0)x 10^{50} erg] of iron-core progenitors at the low-mass end of the core-collapse supernova (LMCCSN) domain and compare to a super-AGB (sAGB) progenitor with an oxygen-neon-magnesium core that collapses and explodes as electron-capture supernova (ECSN). The onset of the explosion in the LMCCSN models is modelled self-consistently using the Vertex-Prometheus code, whereas the ECSN explosion is modelled using parametric neutrino transport in the Prometheus-HOTB code, choosing different explosion energies in the range of previous self-consistent models. The sAGB and LMCCSN progenitors that share structural similarities have almost spherical explosions with little metal mixing into the hydrogen envelope. A LMCCSN with less 2nd dredge-up results in a highly asymmetric explosion. It shows efficient mixing and dramatic shock deceleration in the extended hydrogen envelope. Both properties allow fast nickel plumes to catch up with the shock, leading to extreme shock deformation and aspherical shock breakout. Fallback masses of 40 km/s and a NS spin period of ~30 ms, both not largely different from those of the Crab pulsar at birth., Comment: 47 pages, 27 figures, 6 tables; minor revisions, accepted by MNRAS

We have studied double-detonation explosions in double-degenerate (DD) systems with different companion white dwarfs (WD) for modeling type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) by means of high-resolution smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) simulations. We have found that only the primary WDs explode in some of the DD systems, while the explosions of the primary WDs induce the explosions of the companion WDs in the other DD systems. The former case is so-called Dynamically-Driven Double-Degenerate Double-Detonation (D$^6$) explosion, or helium-ignited violent merger explosion. The supernova ejecta of the primary WDs strip materials from the companion WDs, whose mass is $\sim 10^{-3}M_\odot$. The stripped materials contain carbon and oxygen when the companion WDs are carbon-oxygen (CO) WDs with He shells $\lesssim 0.04M_\odot$. Since they contribute to low-velocity ejecta components as observationally interfered for iPTF14atg, D$^6$ explosions can be counterparts of sub-luminous SNe Ia. The stripped materials may contribute to low-velocity C seen in several SNe Ia. In the latter case, the companion WDs explode through He detonation if they are He WDs, and through double-detonation mechanism if they are CO WDs with He shells. We name these explosions "triple" and "quadruple" detonation (TD/QD) explosions after the number of detonations. The QD explosion may be counterparts of luminous SNe Ia, such as SN 1991T and SN 1999aa, since they yield a large amount of $^{56}$Ni, and their He-detonation products contribute to the early emissions accompanying such luminous SNe Ia. On the other hand, the TD explosion may not yield a sufficient amount of $^{56}$Ni to explain luminous SNe Ia., reference updated

Stars with $\sim 8-10~{M}_{\odot}$ evolve to form a strongly degenerate ONeMg core. When the core mass becomes close to the Chandrasekhar mass, the core undergoes electron captures on $^{24}$Mg and $^{20}$Ne, which induce the electron-capture supernova (ECSN). In order to clarify whether the ECSN leads to a collapse or thermonuclear explosion, we calculate the evolution of an $8.4~M_\odot$ star from the main sequence until the oxygen ignition in the ONeMg core. We apply the latest electron-capture rate on $^{20}$Ne including the second forbidden transition, and investigate how the location of the oxygen ignition (center or off-center) and the $Y_e$ distribution depend on the input physics and the treatment of the semiconvection and convection. The central density when the oxygen deflagration is initiated, $\rho_{\rm c,def}$, can be significantly higher than that of the oxygen ignition thanks to the convection, and we estimate $\log_{10}(\rho_{\rm c,def}/\mathrm{g~cm^{-3}})>10.10$. We perform two-dimensional simulations of the flame propagation to examine how the final fate of the ONeMg core depends on the $Y_e$ distribution and $\rho_{\rm c,def}$. We find that the deflagration starting from $\log_{10}(\rho_{\rm c,def}/\mathrm{g~cm^{-3}})>10.01 (< 10.01)$ leads to a collapse (thermonuclear explosion). Since our estimate of $\rho_{\rm c,def}$ exceeds this critical value, the ONeMg core is likely to collapse, although further studies of the convection and semiconvection before the deflagration are important., Comment: 24 pages, 24 figures, accepted by ApJ on Oct. 4th

Superluminous supernovae have been proposed to arise from Population III progenitors that explode as pair-instability supernovae. Pop III stars are the first generation of stars in the Universe, and are thought to form as late as $z \sim 6$. Future near-infrared imaging facilities such as ULTIMATE-Subaru can potentially detect and identify these PISNe with a dedicated survey. Gravitational lensing by intervening structure in the Universe can aid in the detection of these rare objects by magnifying the high-$z$ source population into detectability. We perform a mock survey with ULTIMATE-Subaru, taking into account lensing by line-of-sight structure to evaluate its impact on the predicted detection rate. We compare a LOS mass reconstruction using observational data from the Hyper Suprime Cam survey to results from cosmological simulations to test their consistency in calculating the magnification distribution in the Universe to high-$z$, but find that the data-based method is still limited by an inability to accurately characterize structure beyond $z \sim1.2$. We also evaluate a survey strategy of targeting massive galaxy clusters to take advantage of their large areas of high magnification. We find that targeting clusters can result in a gain of a factor of $\sim$two in the predicted number of detected PISNe at $z > 5$, and even higher gains with increasing redshift, given our assumed survey parameters. For the highest-redshift sources at $z \sim 7-9$, blank field surveys will not detect any sources, and lensing magnification by massive clusters will be necessary to observe this population., 9 pages, 2 figures, 1 table, accepted by Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan

The supernova remnant (SNR) 3C 397 is thought to originate from a Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) explosion of a near-Chandrasekhar-mass (M Ch) progenitor, based on the enhanced abundances of Mn and Ni revealed by previous X-ray study with Suzaku. Here we report follow-up XMM-Newton observations of this SNR, conducted with the aim of investigating the detailed spatial distribution of the Fe-peak elements. We have discovered an ejecta clump with extremely high abundances of Ti and Cr, in addition to Mn, Fe, and Ni, in the southern part of the SNR. The Fe mass of this ejecta clump is estimated to be ∼0.06 M ⊙, under the assumption of a typical Fe yield for SNe Ia (i.e., ∼0.8 M ⊙). The observed mass ratios among the Fe-peak elements and Ti require substantial neutronization that is achieved only in the innermost regions of a near-M Ch SN Ia with a central density of ρ c ∼ 5 × 109 g cm−3, significantly higher than typically assumed for standard near-M Ch SNe Ia (ρ c ∼ 2 × 109 g cm−3). The overproduction of the neutron-rich isotopes (e.g., 50Ti and 54Cr) is significant in such high-ρ c SNe Ia, with respect to the solar composition. Therefore, if 3C 397 is a typical high-ρ c near-M Ch SN Ia remnant, the solar abundances of these isotopes could be reproduced by the mixture of the high- and low-ρ c near-M Ch and sub-M Ch Type Ia events, with ≲20% being high-ρ c near-M Ch.

Several explosions of thermonuclear supernovae (SNe Ia) have been found to exhibit deviations from spherical symmetry upon closer inspection. Examples are the gamma-ray lines from SN 2014J as measured by INTEGRAL/SPI, and morphology information from radioactive isotopes in older remnants such as Tycho. A systematic study on the effects of parameters such as ignition geometry and burning morphology in SNe Ia is still missing. We use a 2D hydrodynamics code with post-processing nucleosynthesis and simulate the double detonations in a sub-Chandrasekhar mass carbon-oxygen white dwarf starting from the nuclear runaway in the accumulated He envelope towards disruption of the white dwarf. We explore potential variety through four triggering scenarios that sample main asymmetry drivers. We further investigate their global effects on the aspherical structure of the ejecta based on individual elements. We apply the results to the well observed SN 2014J and other recently observed SN remnants in order to illustrate how these new observational data together with other observed quantities help to constrain the explosion and the progenitors of SNe Ia., 28 pages, 26 figures, published in Astrophysical Journal. Submitted at 23 September 2019, accepted at 10 November 2020, published at 12 March 2021

Recent observations have shown a remarkable diversity of observational behaviors and explosion mechanisms in thermonuclear supernovae (SNe). An emerging class of peculiar thermonuclear SNe, called Type Iax, show photometric and spectroscopic behaviors distinct from normal Type Ia. Their origin remains highly controversial, but pure turbulent deflagration of white dwarfs (WDs) has been regarded as the leading formation theory. The large population of Type Iax indicates the existence of unidentified Galactic Type Iax supernova remnants (SNRs). We report evidence that SNR Sgr A East in the Galactic center resulted from a pure turbulent deflagration of a Chandrasekhar-mass carbon-oxygen WD, an explosion mechanism used for Type Iax SNe. Our X-ray spectroscopic study of Sgr A East using 3 Ms of Chandra data shows a low ratio of intermediate-mass elements to Fe and large Mn/Fe and Ni/Fe ratios. This abundance pattern does not accord with the core-collapse or normal Type Ia models. Sgr A East is thus the first Galactic SNR for which a likely Type Iax origin has been proposed and the nearest target for studying this peculiar class. We compared Sgr A East with the Fe-rich SNRs 3C 397 and W49B, which also have high Mn and Cr abundances and were claimed to result from deflagration-to-detonation explosions of Chandrasekhar-mass WDs (although with disputes). Our study shows that they have distinct abundance patterns. The X-ray spectroscopic studies of thermonuclear SNRs provide observational evidence for the theories that there are diverse explosion channels and various metal outputs for Chandrasekhar-mass WDs., 17 pages, 7 figures, 2 tables; accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal

The physical origin of Type-I (hydrogen-less) superluminous supernovae (SLSNe-I), whose luminosities are 10 to 500 times higher than normal core-collapse supernovae, remains still unknown. Thanks to their brightness, SLSNe-I would be useful probes of distant Universe. For the power source of the light curves of SLSNe-I, radioactive-decays, magnetars, and circumstellar interactions have been proposed, although no definitive conclusions have been reached yet. Since most of light curve studies have been based on simplified semi-analytic models, we have constructed multi-color light curve models by means of detailed radiation hydrodynamical calculations for various mass of stars including very massive ones and large amount of mass loss. We compare the rising time, peak luminosity, width, and decline rate of the model light curves with observations of SLSNe-I and obtain constraints on their progenitors and explosion mechanisms. We particularly pay attention to the recently reported double peaks of the light curves. We discuss how to discriminate three models, relevant models parameters, their evolutionary origins, and implications for the early evolution of the Universe.

We conduct a rigorous examination of the nearby red supergiant Betelgeuse by drawing on the synthesis of new observational data and three different modeling techniques. Our observational results include the release of new, processed photometric measurements collected with the space-based SMEI instrument prior to Betelgeuse's recent, unprecedented dimming event. We detect the first radial overtone in the photometric data and report a period of $185\pm13.5$ d. Our theoretical predictions include self-consistent results from multi-timescale evolutionary, oscillatory, and hydrodynamic simulations conducted with the Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA) software suite. Significant outcomes of our modeling efforts include a precise prediction for the star's radius: $764^{+116}_{-62} R_{\odot}$. In concert with additional constraints, this allows us to derive a new, independent distance estimate of $168^ {+27}_{-15}$ pc and a parallax of $\pi=5.95^{+0.58}_{-0.85}$ mas, in good agreement with Hipparcos but less so with recent radio measurements. Seismic results from both perturbed hydrostatic and evolving hydrodynamic simulations constrain the period and driving mechanisms of Betelgeuse's dominant periodicities in new ways. Our analyses converge to the conclusion that Betelgeuse's $\approx 400$ day period is the result of pulsation in the fundamental mode, driven by the $\kappa$-mechanism. Grid-based hydrodynamic modeling reveals that the behavior of the oscillating envelope is mass-dependent, and likewise suggests that the non-linear pulsation excitation time could serve as a mass constraint. Our results place $\alpha$ Ori definitively in the core helium-burning phase near the base of the red supergiant branch. We report a present-day mass of $16.5$--$19 ~M_{\odot}$---slightly lower than typical literature values., Comment: v5: published in the Astrophysical Journal v3/v4: first revision with the Astrophysical Journal (v4: abstract corrected). v1/v2: submitted version and minor updates. Photometry available at https://konkoly.hu/staff/lmolnar/data/alpha_Ori_SMEI_1d-avg_native-plus-Vmag.txt

In our quest to identify the progenitors of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia), we first update the nucleosynthesis yields both for near-Chandrasekhar (Ch) and sub-Ch mass white dwarfs (WDs), for a wide range of metallicity, with our two-dimensional hydrodynamical code and the latest nuclear reaction rates. We then include the yields in our galactic chemical evolution code to predict the evolution of elemental abundances in the solar neighborhood and dwarf spheroidal (dSph) galaxies: Fornax, Sculptor, Sextans, and Carina. In the observations of the solar neighborhood stars, Mn shows an opposite trend to $\alpha$ elements, showing an increase toward higher metallicities, which is very well reproduced by deflagration-detonation transition of Ch-mass WDs, but never by double detonations of sub-Ch-mass WDs alone. The problem of Ch-mass SNe Ia was the Ni over-production at high metallicities. However, we found that Ni yields of Ch-mass SNe Ia are much lower with the solar-scaled initial composition than in previous works, which keeps the predicted Ni abundance within the observational scatter. From the evolutionary trends of elemental abundances in the solar neighborhood, we conclude that the contribution of sub-Ch-mass SNe Ia in chemical enrichment is up to 25\%. In dSph galaxies, however, larger enrichment from sub-Ch-mass SNe Ia than in the solar neighborhood may be required, which causes a decrease in [(Mg, Cr, Mn, Ni)/Fe] at lower metallicities. The observed high [Mn/Fe] ratios in Sculptor and Carina may also require additional enrichment from pure deflagrations, possibly as Type Iax supernovae. Future observations of dSph stars will provide more stringent constraints on the progenitor systems and explosion mechanism of SNe Ia., Comment: 23 pages, 26 figures, Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal

Recent observations of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) have shown diversified properties of the explosion strength, light curves and chemical composition. To investigate possible origins of such diversities in SNe Ia, we have presented multi-dimensional hydrodynamical study of explosions and associated nucleosynthesis in the near Chandrasekhar mass carbon-oxygen (CO) white dwarfs (WDs) for a wide range of parameters (Leung and Nomoto 2018 ApJ). In the present paper, we extend our wide parameter survey of models to the explosions of sub-Chandrasekhar mass CO WDs. We take the double detonation model for the explosion mechanism. The model parameters of the survey include the metallicity of $Z = 0 - 5~Z_\odot$, the CO WD mass of $M = 0.90 - 1.20~M_\odot$, and the He envelope mass of $M_{\rm He} = 0.05 - 0.20~M_\odot$. We also study how the initial He detonation configuration, such as spherical, bubble, and ring shapes, triggers the C detonation. For these parameters, we derive the minimum He envelope mass necessary to trigger the C detonation. We then examine how the explosion dynamics and associated nucleosynthesis depend on these parameters, and compare our results with the previous representative models. We compare our nucleosynthesis yields with the unusual abundance patterns of Fe-peak elements and isotopes observed in SNe Ia 2011fe, 2012cg and 2014J, as well as SN Ia remnant 3C 397 to provide constraints on their progenitors and environments. We provide the nucleosynthesis yields table of the sub-Chandrasekhar mass explosions, to discuss their roles in the galactic chemical evolution and archaeology., 56 pages, 89 figures, submitted to Astrophysical Journal at 15 January 2019, accepted at 25 November 2019, published at 10 January 2020. Some color plots in Appendix B removed to lower the file size. Text, figures and references updated to match with accepted version. Metadata updated

We calculate the evolution of massive stars, which undergo pulsational pair-instability (PPI) when the O-rich core is formed. The evolution from the main-sequence through the onset of PPI is calculated for stars with the initial masses of $80 - 140$ $M_{\odot}$ and metallicities of $Z = 10^{-3} - 1.0$ $Z_\odot$. Because of mass loss, $Z \leq 0.5$ $Z_\odot$ is necessary for stars to form He cores massive enough (i.e., mass $>40 ~M_\odot$) to undergo PPI. The hydrodynamical phase of evolution from PPI through the beginning of Fe core collapse is calculated for the He cores with masses of $40 - 62 ~M_\odot$ and $Z = 0$. During PPI, electron-positron pair production causes a rapid contraction of the O-rich core which triggers explosive O-burning and a pulsation of the core. We study the mass dependence of the pulsation dynamics, thermodynamics, and nucleosynthesis. The pulsations are stronger for more massive He cores and result in such a large amount of mass ejection such as $3 - 13$ $M_\odot$ for $40 - 62 ~M_\odot$ He cores. These He cores eventually undergo Fe-core collapse. The $64 ~M_\odot$ He core undergoes complete disruption and becomes a pair-instability supernova. The H-free circumstellar matter ejected around these He cores is massive enough for to explain the observed light curve of Type I (H-free) superluminous supernovae with circumstellar interaction. We also note that the mass ejection sets the maximum mass of black holes (BHs) to be $\sim 50$ $M_{\odot}$, which is consistent with the masses of BHs recently detected by VIRGO and aLIGO., 33 pages, 57 figures, submitted at 29 January 2019, revised at 16 October 2019, accepted at 20 October 2019; published 11 December 2019. References and metadata updated

Stars of 8–10 M⊙ form a strongly electron-degenerate oxygen–neon–magnesium core which is more massive than ∼1.1 M⊙, and become super-Asymptotic Giant Branch stars. The oxygen–neon–magnesium core increases its mass through H and He shell burning. The core contracts accordingly and the central density increases. In the high density core, electron capture takes place and further boosts the core contraction. When electron capture on 20Ne starts, it induces oxygen–neon deflagration. It remains a theoretical question whether neutron star can be formed after the deflagration has started. If the star collapses, the following explosion is known as an electron capture supernova. In this article, we give a brief overview on the development of idea in the presupernova evolution and the hydrodynamics behaviour of electron capture supernovae. Using standard stellar evolutionary models that show rather high ignition density, we show that the collapse can occur in a wide range of model parameter. However, future study remains important. We also review the possible observables of electron capture supernovae and discuss their applications to the light curve model for the Crab supernova 1054.

We report our observations of HSC16aayt (SN 2016jiu), which was discovered by the Subaru/Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) transient survey conducted as part of Subaru Strategic Program (SSP). It shows very slow photometric evolution and its rise time is more than 100 days. The optical magnitude change in 400 days remains within 0.6 mag. Spectra of HSC16aayt show a strong narrow emission line and we classify it as a Type IIn supernova. The redshift of HSC16aayt is 0.6814 +/- 0.0002 from the spectra. Its host galaxy center is at 5 kpc from the supernova location and HSC16aayt might be another example of isolated Type IIn supernovae, although the possible existence of underlying star forming activity of the host galaxy at the supernova location is not excluded., Comment: 14 pages, 12 figures, 1 table, accepted by The Astrophysical Journal