Type Ia supernovae inside planetary nebulae: Shaping by jets

Abstract

Using 3D numerical hydrodynamical simulations, we show that jets launched prior to Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) explosion in the core-degenerate (CD) scenario can account for the appearance of two opposite lobes ('Ears') along the symmetry axis of the SN remnant (SNR). In the double-degenerate (DD) and CD scenarios the merger of the two degenerate compact objects is very likely to lead to the formation of an accretion disc, that might launch two opposite jets. In the CD scenario, these jets interact with the envelope ejected during the preceding common envelope phase. If explosion occurs shortly after the merger process, the exploding gas and the jets will collide with the ejected nebula, leading to SNR with axisymmetric components including 'Ears'. We also explore the possibility that the jets are launched by the companion white dwarf prior to its merger with the core. This last process is similar to the one where jets are launched in some pre-planetary nebulae. The SNR 'Ears' in this case are formed by a spherical SN Ia explosion inside an elliptical planetary nebula-like object. We compare our numerical results with two SNRs-Kepler and G299.2-2.9. © 2013 The Authors Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society.