Supernova 1604, Kepler's supernova, and its remnant

Abstract

Supernova 1604 is the last Galactic supernova for which historical records exist. Johannes Kepler's name is attached to it, as he published a detailed account of the observations made by himself and European colleagues. Supernova 1604 was very likely a Type Ia supernova, which exploded 350 pc to 750 pc above the Galactic plane. Its supernova remnant, known as Kepler's supernova remnant, shows clear evidence for interaction with nitrogen-rich material in the north/northwest part of the remnant, which, given the height above the Galactic plane, must find its origin in mass loss from the supernova progenitor system. The combination of a Type Ia supernova and the presence of circumstellar material makes Kepler's supernova remnant a unique object to study the origin of Type Ia supernovae. The evidence suggests that the progenitor binary system of supernova 1604 consisted of a carbon- oxygen white dwarf and an evolved companion star, which most likely was in the (post) asymptotic giant branch of its evolution. A problem with this scenario is that the companion star must have survived the explosion, but no trace of its existence has yet been found, despite a deep search. 1 Introduction; 2 The supernova remnant, its distance and multiwavelength properties; 2.1 Position, distance estimates and SN1604 as a runaway system; 2.2 X-ray imaging spectroscopy and SN1604 as a Type Ia supernova 2.3 The circumstellar medium as studied in the optical and infrared; 3 The dynamics of Kepler's SNR; 3.1 Velocity measurements; 3.2 Hydrodynamical simulations; 4 The progenitor system of SN 1604; 4.1 Elevated circumstellar nitrogen abundances, silicates and a single degenerate scenario for SN1604; 4.2 Problems with a single degenerate Type Ia scenario for SN 1604; 4.3 Was SN 1604 a core-degenerate Type Ia explosion?; 4.4 What can we learn from the historical light curve of SN 1604? ; 5 Conclusions