The rate of core collapse from low mass stars has the same uncertainties of star formation rate and initial
mass function of stars that made it difficult to estimate the normal supernova rate. But it also has an
additional uncertainty: understanding the lower limit at which these collapses occur [197, 286, 287, 241].
This lower limit marks the dividing line between white dwarf and neutron star formation and
the explosive ejection of the star’s envelope (part of the white dwarf formation process) has
proven very difficult for traditional stellar evolution codes to model. The actual position of
this lower limit has been a matter of debate for over three decades (see Iben & Renzini [152]
for a review). The metallicity dependence on this limit is even more controversial. Heger et
al. [136
] argued that the metallicity dependence was negligible and that the lower limit was
roughly at
at all metallicities. Poelarends et al. [241] have studied this matter in more
detail and have a range of solutions for the metallicity dependence. For neutron stars forming
through electron capture supernovae, their “preferred” model predicts that the limit drops from
at solar metallicity down to
at
. This means that for most
initial mass functions, these low mass core-collapse progenitors dominate core-collapse at low
metallicities.
Unfortunately, these low-mass supernovae do not produce very much radioactive Ni, the power source for supernova light-curves. Although their envelopes are likely to be denser than the material surrounding AICs, the tenuous envelopes certainly affect the explosion and may limit the shock-powered light-curve. But surveys are now catching these supernovae [288]. These surveys will ultimately place reasonable estimates on the rate of these supernovae. Based on current estimates of the mass limits and the initial mass function in this mass range, we expect the rate of these supernovae to be roughly equal to that of the core-collapse supernova rate.
The structure of the core of low-mass stars is very similar to the structure of AIC cores, and a large set of
simulations of both have been conducted in the past few decades [142, 11, 334, 102
, 63
, 61
]. The core
collapses and bounces, but the envelope is not massive enough to prevent a quick revival. A convective
region is unlikely to develop above the proto neutron star. But these stars are probably not rotating as fast
as most AICs, and their subsequent GW emission is likely to be weaker (e.g., smaller chance of bar-mode
instabilities, etc.).
The GW emission mechanisms at bounce and in the neutron star are the same as AICs but the likelihood of the development of instabilities (and the strength of the GW emission from these instabilities) will be affected by slower rotation.
http://www.livingreviews.org/lrr-2011-1 |
Living Rev. Relativity 14, (2011), 1
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