Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
1997-05-20
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
14 pages including 4 figures, LaTeX, uses paspconf.sty (included), to appear in "SN 1987A: Ten years after", Eds. M.M. Phillip
Scientific paper
Ten years later, astronomers are still puzzled by the stellar evolution that produced SN 1987A --- a blue supergiant. In single star models, the new OPAL opacities make blue solutions more difficult to achieve, though still possible for certain choices of convection physics. We also consider rotation, which has the desirable effect of producing large surface enhancements of nitrogen and helium, but the undesirable effect of increasing the helium-core mass at the expense of the envelope. The latter makes blue solutions more difficult. Still, we seek a model that occurs with high probability in the LMC and for which the time-scale for making the last transition from red to blue, $\sim$ 20,000 years, has a physical interpretation --- the Kelvin-Helmholtz time of the helium core. Single star models satisfy both criteria and might yet prove to be the correct explanation for Sk -69 202, provided new rotational or convection physics can simultaneously give a blue star and explain the ring structure. Some speculations on how this might be achieved are presented and some aspects of binary models briefly discussed.
Heger Alexander
Langer Norbert
Weaver Thomas A.
Woosley Stan E.
No associations
LandOfFree
SN 1987A - Presupernova Evolution and the Progenitor Star 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 SN 1987A - Presupernova Evolution and the Progenitor Star, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and SN 1987A - Presupernova Evolution and the Progenitor Star will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-530233