A Unified Accreting Magnetar Model for Long-duration Gamma-Ray Bursts and Some Stripped-envelope Supernovae

Abstract

Both the long-duration gamma-ray bursts (LGRBs) and the Type I superluminous supernovae (SLSNe I) have been proposed to be primarily powered by central magnetars. A correlation, proposed between the initial spin period ( P 0 ) and the surface magnetic field ( B ) of the magnetars powering the X-ray plateaus in LGRB afterglows, indicates a possibility that the magnetars have reached an equilibrium spin period due to the fallback accretion. The corresponding accretion rates are inferred as M ⊙ s −1 , and this result holds for the cases of both isotropic and collimated magnetar wind. For the SLSNe I and a fraction of engine-powered normal Type Ic supernovae (SNe Ic) and the broad-lined subclass (SNe Ic-BL), the magnetars could also reach an accretion-induced spin equilibrium, but the corresponding distribution suggests a different accretion rate range, i.e., M ⊙ s −1 . Considering the effect of fallback accretion, magnetars with relatively weak fields are responsible for the SLSNe I, while those with stronger magnetic fields could power SNe Ic/Ic-BL. Some SLSNe I in our sample could arise from compact progenitor stars, while others that require longer-term accretion may originate from the progenitor stars with more extended envelopes or circumstellar medium.