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- Title
The Crab Nebula's progenitor.
- Authors
Nomoto, Ken'ichi; Sparks, Warren M.; Fesen, Robert A.; Gull, Theodore R.; Miyaji, S.; Sugimoto, D.
- Abstract
The study of supernovae is hampered by an insufficient knowledge of the initial stellar mass for individual supernova. Because of large uncertainties in estimating both the total mass of a remnant (including the pulsar or black hole) and any mass loss during the pre-supernova stages, the main sequence mass of the progenitor cannot be accurately determined from observations alone. To calculate an initial mass, one must rely on a combination of both theory and observation. Limits on the progenitor's mass range can be estimated by the presence of a compact remnant and comparison of the observed nebular chemical abundances with detailed evolutionary calculations1. The Crab Nebula is an excellent choice for investigation because it contains a unique combination of characteristics: a central neutron star (pulsar) and a bright, well studied nebula having little or no swept-up interstellar material. In fact, several studies1-4 have suggested an initial mass of ∼10M\cirċ for the Crab progenitor. Recently, Davidson et al.5, quoting two of us (K.N. and W.M.S.), state that the Crab's progenitor had a mass slightly larger than 8 M\cirċ. Here we present in detail the reasoning behind this statement and suggest the explosion mechanism.
- Publication
Nature, 1982, Vol 299, Issue 5886, p803
- ISSN
0028-0836
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/299803a0