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The association of supernovae with regions of recent star formation in late-type galaxies

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:7060321
The association of supernovae of the four major types (Ia, Ib, II, and II pec) with regions of the recent star formation in their parent late-type galaxies is established. The purpose is to place constraints on quantitative analysis of both photographic and CCD H alpha images of the galaxies. The CCD images of several parent galaxies were especially obtained. The geometries of detected giant H II regions on these images near the supernovae sites are determined and compared to the H II region-supernova separation, in order to establish physical association. The specific problems of supernova classification and positional uncertainties, as well as the probability of chance super-position, are considered in this work. In addition, calibrated surface brightness profiles and integrated physical properties are presented for the associated H II regions. For the supernova sites imaged with CCDs, broad-band B images were also obtained, in order to map the distribution of blue stellar populations in the supernovae environments. The results of this study are: from the lack of association with H II regions or bright OB associations, Type Ia supernovae are not likely to be associated with a young massive population, with mass M is greater than or = to 8 solar masses (which supports the currently popular model of an evolved binary system involving critical mass transfer on a white dwarf); Type Ib, II and II pec supernovae, however, are very likely to be associated with massive stellar populations, as theoretically expected; and, the very massive Wolf-Rayet star progenitor model for Type Ib supernovae is not strongly supported.
Research Organization:
Washington Univ., Seattle, WA (USA)
OSTI ID:
7060321
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English