Other
Scientific paper
Jul 2007
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007hst..prop11105g&link_type=abstract
HST Proposal ID #11105. Cycle 16
Other
Scientific paper
The currently accepted theory regarding the last stages of massive star evolution maintains that the evolution of the envelope is coupled to that of the stellar core. For this reason, very massive stars are expected to shed their outer hydrogen envelopes before they develop large iron cores, and ultimately, explode as core-collapse supernovae SNe. It is therefore a strict prediction of current models that massive stars certainly those above ~40 solar mass will explode as hydrogen-poor SNe, i.e., of Types Ib and Ic. In particular, the class of luminous blue variables LBVs such as eta-Carina, which are known to be very massive up to 100 solar masses and above are expected to lose their entire hydrogen envelopes prior to their ultimate explosions as SNe. However, using pre-explosion HST/WFPC2 imaging of the location of the recent hydrogen-rich type IIn SN 2005gl, we have identified Gal-Yam et al. 2007 its putative progenitor as a very luminous point source with absolute V magnitude of -10.2. If this is a single star, it must be an LBV from luminosity considerations no other stars are as luminous. If our progenitor identification is correct, at least in some cases, massive stars explode before losing most of their hydrogen envelope, indicating the core and envelope are decoupled, and requiring revision of stellar evolution theory. Here, we propose a single-orbit HST observation of the location of SN 2005gl designed to test whether the point source we identified as its LBV progenitor has indeed disappeared as expected from a single star or remained unchanged as expected, e.g., if it is a compact star cluster. These data are the last observational ingredient required to firmly establish or refute the explosion of an LBV as a type IIn SN, with fundamental implications for the theory of massive star evolution. Since the new data will be compared to pre-explosion WFPC2 images, this program is perfectly suited to be carried out with the WFPC2 camera.;
No associations
LandOfFree
The LBV progenitor of SN 2005gl - a new key to massive star evolution puzzles does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with The LBV progenitor of SN 2005gl - a new key to massive star evolution puzzles, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The LBV progenitor of SN 2005gl - a new key to massive star evolution puzzles will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-780457