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Title: THE IMPACT OF METALLICITY ON THE RATE OF TYPE Ia SUPERNOVAE

Abstract

The metallicity of a star strongly affects both its evolution and the properties of the stellar remnant that results from its demise. It is generally accepted that stars with initial masses below {approx}8 M{sub Sun} leave behind white dwarfs and that some sub-population of these lead to Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia). However, it is often tacitly assumed that metallicity has no effect on the rate of SNe Ia. We propose that a consequence of the effects of metallicity is to significantly increase the SN Ia rate in lower-metallicity galaxies, in contrast to previous expectations. This is because lower-metallicity stars leave behind higher-mass white dwarfs, which should be easier to bring to explosion. We first model SN Ia rates in relation to galaxy masses and ages alone, finding that the elevation in the rate of SNe Ia in lower-mass galaxies measured by Lick Observatory SN Search is readily explained. However, we then see that models incorporating this effect of metallicity agree just as well. Using the same parameters to estimate the cosmic SN Ia rate, we again find good agreement with data up to z Almost-Equal-To 2. We suggest that this degeneracy warrants more detailed examination of host galaxy metallicities.more » We discuss additional implications, including for hosts of high-z SNe Ia, the SN Ia delay time distribution, super-Chandrasekhar SNe, and cosmology.« less

Authors:
 [1]; ; ;  [2];  [3]
  1. California Institute of Technology, Mail Code 350-17, Pasadena, CA 91125 (United States)
  2. Center for Cosmology and Astro-Particle Physics, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210 (United States)
  3. Carnegie Observatories, 813 Santa Barbara Street, Pasadena, CA 91101 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22127106
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Astrophysical Journal
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 770; Journal Issue: 2; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0004-637X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
79 ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY; COSMOLOGY; GALAXIES; MASS; STAR EVOLUTION; SUPERNOVAE; TIME DELAY; WHITE DWARF STARS

Citation Formats

Kistler, Matthew D., Stanek, K. Z., Kochanek, Christopher S., Thompson, Todd A., and Prieto, Jose L. THE IMPACT OF METALLICITY ON THE RATE OF TYPE Ia SUPERNOVAE. United States: N. p., 2013. Web. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/770/2/88.
Kistler, Matthew D., Stanek, K. Z., Kochanek, Christopher S., Thompson, Todd A., & Prieto, Jose L. THE IMPACT OF METALLICITY ON THE RATE OF TYPE Ia SUPERNOVAE. United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/770/2/88
Kistler, Matthew D., Stanek, K. Z., Kochanek, Christopher S., Thompson, Todd A., and Prieto, Jose L. 2013. "THE IMPACT OF METALLICITY ON THE RATE OF TYPE Ia SUPERNOVAE". United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/770/2/88.
@article{osti_22127106,
title = {THE IMPACT OF METALLICITY ON THE RATE OF TYPE Ia SUPERNOVAE},
author = {Kistler, Matthew D. and Stanek, K. Z. and Kochanek, Christopher S. and Thompson, Todd A. and Prieto, Jose L.},
abstractNote = {The metallicity of a star strongly affects both its evolution and the properties of the stellar remnant that results from its demise. It is generally accepted that stars with initial masses below {approx}8 M{sub Sun} leave behind white dwarfs and that some sub-population of these lead to Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia). However, it is often tacitly assumed that metallicity has no effect on the rate of SNe Ia. We propose that a consequence of the effects of metallicity is to significantly increase the SN Ia rate in lower-metallicity galaxies, in contrast to previous expectations. This is because lower-metallicity stars leave behind higher-mass white dwarfs, which should be easier to bring to explosion. We first model SN Ia rates in relation to galaxy masses and ages alone, finding that the elevation in the rate of SNe Ia in lower-mass galaxies measured by Lick Observatory SN Search is readily explained. However, we then see that models incorporating this effect of metallicity agree just as well. Using the same parameters to estimate the cosmic SN Ia rate, we again find good agreement with data up to z Almost-Equal-To 2. We suggest that this degeneracy warrants more detailed examination of host galaxy metallicities. We discuss additional implications, including for hosts of high-z SNe Ia, the SN Ia delay time distribution, super-Chandrasekhar SNe, and cosmology.},
doi = {10.1088/0004-637X/770/2/88},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22127106}, journal = {Astrophysical Journal},
issn = {0004-637X},
number = 2,
volume = 770,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jun 20 00:00:00 EDT 2013},
month = {Thu Jun 20 00:00:00 EDT 2013}
}