Formation pathway for lonely stripped-envelope supernova progenitors: implications for Cassiopeia A

Understand

We explore a new scenario for producing stripped-envelope supernova progenitors.

• In our scenario, the stripped-envelope supernova is the second supernova of the binary, in which the envelope of the secondary was removed during its red supergiant phase by the impact of the first supernova.
• Through 2D hydrodynamical simulations, we find that $\sim$50-90$\%$ of the envelope can be unbound as long as the pre-supernova orbital separation is $\lesssim5$ times the stellar radius.
• Recombination energy plays a significant role in the unbinding, especially for relatively high mass systems ($\gtrsim18M_\odot$).