Recent theory predicts that a first star is born with a massive initial mass of 100 M . Pair instability supernova (PISN) is a common fate for such a massive star. Our final goal is to prove the existence of PISN and thus the high mass nature of the initial mass function in the early universe by conducting abundance profiling, in which properties of a hypothetical first star is constrained by metal-poor star abundances. In order to determine reliable and useful abundances, we investigate the PISN nucleosynthesis taking both rotating and non-rotating progenitors for the first time. We show that the initial and CO core mass ranges for PISNe depend on the envelope structures: non-magnetic rotating models developing inflated envelopes have a lower-shifted CO mass range of ∼ 70-125 M , while non-rotating and magnetic rotating models with deflated envelopes have a range of ∼ 80-135 M . However, we find no significant difference in explosive yields from rotating and non-rotating progenitors, except for large nitrogen production in nonmagnetic rotating models. Furthermore, we conduct the first systematic comparison between theoretical yields and a large sample of metal-poor star abundances. We find that the predicted low [Na/Mg] ∼ −1.5 and high [Ca/Mg] ∼ 0.5-1.3 abundance ratios are the most important to discriminate PISN signatures from normal metal-poor star abundances, and confirm that no currently observed metal-poor star matches with the PISN abundance. Extensive discussion on the non-detection is finally made.

We provide progenitor models for electron capture supernovae (ECSNe) with detailed evolutionary calculation. We include minor electron capture nuclei using a large nuclear reaction network with updated reaction rates. For electron capture, the Coulomb correction of rates is treated and the contribution from neutron-rich isotopes is taken into account in each nuclear statistical equilibrium (NSE) composition. We calculate the evolution of the most massive super asymptotic giant branch stars and show that these stars undergo off-center carbon burning and form ONe cores at the center. These cores become heavier up to the critical mass of 1.367 M ⊙ and keep contracting even after the initiation of O+Ne deflagration. Inclusion of minor electron capture nuclei causes convective URCA cooling during the contraction phase, but the effect on the progenitor evolution is small. On the other hand, electron capture by neutron-rich isotopes in the NSE region have a more significant effect. We discuss the uniqueness of the critical core mass for ECSNe and the effect of wind mass loss on the plausibility of our models for ECSN progenitors.

We study explosion characteristics of ultra-stripped supernovae (SNe), which are candidates of SNe generating binary neutron stars (NSs). As a first step, we perform stellar evolutionary simulations of bare carbon-oxygen cores of mass from 1.45 to 2.0 M ⊙ until the iron cores become unstable and start collapsing. We then perform axisymmetric hydrodynamics simulations with spectral neutrino transport using these stellar evolution outcomes as initial conditions. All models exhibit successful explosions driven by neutrino heating. The diagnostic explosion energy, ejecta mass, Ni mass, and NS mass are typically ∼ 10 50 erg, ∼ 0.1M ⊙ , ∼ 0.01M ⊙ , and ≈ 1.3M ⊙ , which are compatible with observations of rapidly-evolving and luminous transient such as SN 2005ek. We also find that the ultra-stripped SN is a candidate for producing the secondary low-mass NS in the observed compact binary NSs like PSR J0737-3039.

We investigate light-curve and spectral properties of ultra-stripped core-collapse supernovae. Ultra-stripped supernovae are the explosions of heavily stripped massive stars which lost their envelopes via binary interactions with a compact companion star. They eject only ∼ 0.1 M ⊙ and may be the main way to form double neutronstar systems which eventually merge emitting strong gravitational waves. We follow the evolution of an ultra-stripped supernova progenitor until iron core collapse and perform explosive nucleosynthesis calculations. We then synthesize light curves and spectra of ultra-stripped supernovae using the nucleosynthesis results and present their expected properties. Ultra-stripped supernovae synthesize ∼ 0.01 M ⊙ of radioactive 56 Ni, and their typical peak luminosity is around 10 42 erg s −1 or −16 mag. Their typical rise time is 5 − 10 days. Comparing synthesized and observed spectra, we find that SN 2005ek, some of the so-called calcium-rich gap transients, and SN 2010X may be related to ultra-stripped supernovae. If these supernovae are actually ultra-stripped supernovae, their event rate is expected to be about 1 per cent of core-collapse supernovae. Comparing the double neutron-star merger rate obtained by future gravitational-wave observations and the ultra-stripped supernova rate obtained by optical transient surveys identified with our synthesized light-curve and spectral models, we will be able to judge whether ultra-stripped supernovae are actually a major contributor to the binary neutron star population and provide constraints on binary stellar evolution.

We perform three-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations of aspherical core-collapse supernovae focusing on the matter mixing in SN 1987A. The impacts of four progenitor (pre-supernova) models and parameterized aspherical explosions are investigated. The four pre-supernova models include a blue supergiant (BSG) model based on a slow merger scenario developed recently for the progenitor of SN 1987A (Urushibata et al. 2018. The others are a BSG model based on a single star evolution and two red supergiant (RSG) models. Among the investigated explosion (simulation) models, a model with the binary merger progenitor model and with an asymmetric bipolar-like explosion, which invokes a jetlike explosion, best reproduces constraints on the mass of high velocity 56 Ni, as inferred from the observed [Fe II] line profiles. The advantage of the binary merger progenitor model for the matter mixing is the flat and less extended ρ r 3 profile of the C+O core and the helium layer, which may be characterized by the small helium core mass. From the best explosion model, the direction of the bipolar explosion axis (the strongest explosion direction), the neutron star (NS) kick velocity, and its direction are predicted. Other related implications and future prospects are also given.

Context. Massive stars end their lives with catastrophic supernova (SN) explosions. Key information on the explosion processes and on the progenitor stars can be extracted from observations of supernova remnants (SNRs), the outcome of SNe. Deciphering these observations however is challenging because of the complex morphology of SNRs. Aims. We aim at linking the dynamical and radiative properties of the remnant of SN 1987A to the geometrical and physical characteristics of the parent aspherical SN explosion and to the internal structure of its progenitor star. Methods. We performed comprehensive three-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations which describe the long-term evolution of SN 1987A from the onset of the SN to the full-fledged remnant at the age of 50 years, accounting for the pre-SN structure of the progenitor star. The simulations include all physical processes relevant for the complex phases of SN evolution and for the interaction of the SNR with the highly inhomogeneous ambient environment around SN 1987A. Furthermore the simulations follow the life cycle of elements from the synthesis in the progenitor star, through the nuclear reaction network of the SN, to the enrichment of the circumstellar medium through mixing of chemically homogeneous layers of ejecta. From the simulations, we synthesize observables to be compared with observations. Results. By comparing the model results with observations, we constrained the initial SN anisotropy causing Doppler shifts observed in emission lines of heavy elements from ejecta, and leading to the remnant evolution observed in the X-ray band in the last thirty years. In particular, we found that the high mixing of ejecta unveiled by high redshifts and broadenings of [Fe II] and 44 Ti lines require a highly asymmetric SN explosion channeling a significant fraction of energy along an axis almost lying in the plane of the central equatorial ring around SN 1987A, roughly along the line-of-sight but with an offset of 40 o , with the lobe propagating away from the observer slightly more energetic than the other. Furthermore, we found unambiguously that the observed distribution of ejecta and the dynamical and radiative properties of the SNR can be best reproduced if the structure of the progenitor star was that of a blue supergiant resulted from the merging of two massive stars.

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