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Measuring and Extrapolating the Chemical Abundances of Normal and Superluminous Core-Collapse Supernovae

Stoll, Rebecca A

Abstract Details

, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Astronomy.

Using the properties of star forming regions in the host galaxies of core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe), I extrapolate the properties of the progenitor stars of these SNe. The goal is to determine what role progenitor metallicity plays in the luminosity of a supernova by comparing the environments of normal (average absolute magnitude of -17.5) and super-luminous (absolute magnitude brighter than -20) supernovae.

First, I present spectroscopic oxygen abundance measurements of the hosts of two super-luminous CCSNe, and show that, together with three other measurements from the literature, a strong pattern emerges of super-luminous SNe occurring in host galaxies that are metal-poor compared to the overall galaxy population.

Next, I present metallicity measurements, host photometry, and best-fit galaxy properties for a representative subsample of the Palomar Transient Factory's first-year type II SN sample. The purpose of the in-depth study of this sample is to serve as a reasonable standard of comparison for rare SN events. The secondary aim is to continue to press the discussion in the community about both the usefulness and the limitations of comparing SN hosts to samples of galaxies. Because iron is a key source of opacity for massive star winds, and at lower metallicity, $\alpha$-elements like oxygen are enhanced relative to iron compared to the solar mixture, I present a conversion from gas-phase oxygen abundance measurements to implied iron abundances, and discuss the logic, uses, and limitations of this conversion.

Finally, I present metallicity measurements for a sample of eight hosts of super-luminous CCSNe. Comparing them and four measurements from the literature, I find that super-luminous CCSNe come from much more metal-poor environments than normal type II SNe. This implies that the progenitors of super-luminous CCSNe are much poorer in iron than the progenitors of normal type II SNe, suggesting mass loss is a key factor for abnormally high luminosity.

Richard Pogge (Advisor)

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Stoll, R. A. (n.d.). Measuring and Extrapolating the Chemical Abundances of Normal and Superluminous Core-Collapse Supernovae [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1373284666

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Stoll, Rebecca. Measuring and Extrapolating the Chemical Abundances of Normal and Superluminous Core-Collapse Supernovae. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1373284666.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Stoll, Rebecca. "Measuring and Extrapolating the Chemical Abundances of Normal and Superluminous Core-Collapse Supernovae." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University. Accessed MARCH 28, 2024. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1373284666

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)