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arXiv · 0704.2387

Constraints on supernova progenitors from spatial correlations with H-alpha emission

Abstract

We have attempted to constrain the progenitors of all supernova types, through correlations of the positions of historical supernovae with recent star formation, as traced by H-alpha emission. Through pixel statistics we have found that a large fraction of the SNII population do not show any association with current star formation, which we put down to a 'runaway' fraction of these progenitors. The SNIb/c population accurately traces the H-alpha emission, with some suggestion that the SNIc progenitors show a higher degree of correlation than the SNIb, suggesting higher mass progenitors for the former. Overall the SNIa population only show a weak correlation to the positions of HII regions, but as many as a half may be associated with a young stellar population.

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J. P. Anderson, P. A. James, M. Salaris, S. M. Percival. 2007-04-18. Constraints on supernova progenitors from spatial correlations with H-alpha emission. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2803566

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