Constraining deflagration models of Type Ia supernovae through intermediate-mass elements

Abstract

The physical structure of a nuclear flame is a basic ingredient of the theory of Type Ia supernovae (SNIa). Assuming an exponential density reduction with several characteristic times we have followed the evolution of a planar nuclear flame in an expanding background from an initial density 6.6 10^7 g/cm3 down to 2 10^6 g/cm3. The total amount of synthesized intermediate-mass elements (IME), from silicon to calcium, was monitored during the calculation. We have made use of the computed mass fractions, X_IME, of these elements to give an estimation of the total amount of IME synthesized during the deflagration of a massive white dwarf. Using X_IME and adopting the usual hypothesis that turbulence decouples the effective burning velocity from the laminar flame speed, so that the relevant flame speed is actually the turbulent speed on the integral length-scale, we have built a simple geometrical approach to model the region where IME are thought to be produced. It turns out that a healthy production of IME involves the combination of not too short expansion times, t_c > 0.2 s, and high turbulent intensities. According to our results it could be difficult to produce much more than 0.2 solar masses of intermediate-mass elements within the deflagrative paradigma. The calculations also suggest that the mass of IME scales with the mass of Fe-peak elements, making it difficult to conciliate energetic explosions with low ejected nickel masses, as in the well observed SN1991bg or in SN1998de. Thus a large production of Si-peak elements, especially in combination with a low or a moderate production of iron, could be better addressed by either the delayed detonation route in standard Chandrasekhar-mass models or, perhaps, by the off-center helium detonation in the sub Chandrasekhar-mass scenario.