Why did the progenitor of SN 1987A undergo the blue-red-blue evolution?

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (81) References (29) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Why Did the Progenitor of SN 1987A Undergo the Blue-Red-Blue Evolution? Saio, Hideyuki ; Kato, Mariko ; Nomoto, Ken'ichi Abstract Why was the progenitor of SN 1987A blue and how much hydrogen-rich envelope was retained in the progenitor have been major issues in the theoretical modeling of SN 1987A. As inferred from the observations, the progenitor of SN 1987A very likely evolved first to become a red supergiant and then returned to the blue. We have performed systematic evolutionary calculations for a star of initial mass 20 M_sun_ to clarify how the evolutionary path depends on mass loss, metallicity, and helium abundances and under what conditions the star evolves like the progenitor of SN 1987A. We have found that the star evolves from the blue to the red when the mass of the hydrogen-rich envelope significantly decreases and comes back from the red to the blue before carbon ignition if the helium abundance is sufficiently enhanced by mass loss and mixing. For lower metallicity, such an evolution occurs for a wider range of parameter space. Although the mass loss is important, the progenitor can retain a 5-10 M_sun_ hydrogen-rich envelope. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: August 1988 DOI: 10.1086/166565 Bibcode: 1988ApJ...331..388S Keywords: Blue Stars; Red Giant Stars; Stellar Envelopes; Stellar Evolution; Stellar Interiors; Supernova 1987a; Hydrogen; Light Curve; Stellar Composition; Stellar Mass Ejection; Stellar Models; Astrophysics; STARS: EVOLUTION; STARS: INDIVIDUAL ALPHANUMERIC: SN 1987A; STARS: INTERIORS; STARS: MASS LOSS; STARS: SUPERNOVAE; STARS: SUPERGIANTS full text sources ADS | data products NED (2) SIMBAD (1)