SN 2009ip: Constraints on the Progenitor Mass-loss Rate
Abstract
Some supernovae (SNe) show evidence for mass-loss events taking place prior to their explosions. Measuring their pre-outburst mass-loss rates provides essential information regarding the mechanisms that are responsible for these events. Here we present XMM-Newton and Swift X-ray observations taken after the latest, and presumably the final, outburst of SN 2009ip. We use these observations as well as new near-infrared and visible-light spectra and published radio and visible-light observations to put six independent order-of-magnitude constraints on the mass-loss rate of the SN progenitor prior to the explosion. Our methods utilize the X-ray luminosity, the bound-free absorption, the Hα luminosity, the SN rise time, free-free absorption, and the bolometric luminosity of the outburst detected prior to the explosion. Assuming spherical mass loss with a wind-density profile, we estimate that the effective mass-loss rate from the progenitor was between 10^(–3) and 10^(–2) M_☉ yr^(–1), over a few years prior to the explosion, with a velocity of ~10^3 km s^(–1). This mass-loss rate corresponds to a total circumstellar matter (CSM) mass of ~0.04 M_☉, within 6 × 10^(15) cm of the SN. We note that the mass-loss rate estimate based on the Hα luminosity is higher by an order of magnitude. This can be explained if the narrow-line Hα component is generated at radii larger than the shock radius, or if the CSM has an aspherical geometry. We discuss simple geometries which are consistent with our results.
Additional Information
© 2013 American Astronomical Society. Received 2013 January 14; accepted 2013 March 14; published 2013 April 12. We thank Orly Gnat, Udi Nakar, StanWoosley, Nir Sapir, and Avishay Gal-Yamfor productive discussions, and an anonymous referee for useful suggestions. We gratefully acknowledge the collaboration of the XMM Project team, and in particular Dr. Norbert Schartel, for the XMM ToO observations. E.O.O. is incumbent of the Arye Dissentshik career development chair and is grateful to support by a grant from the Israeli Ministry of Science. M.M.K. acknowledges generous support from the Hubble Fellowship and Carnegie-Princeton Fellowship.Attached Files
Published - 0004-637X_768_1_47.pdf
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Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 38773
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20130604-085130734
- Ministry of Science (Israel)
- NASA Hubble Fellowship
- Carnegie-Princeton Fellowship
- Created
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2013-06-04Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
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2021-11-09Created from EPrint's last_modified field