Expected evolution of the binary system PTF J2238+743015.1

¹ INAF – Osservatorio Astronomico d’Abruzzo, Via Mentore Maggini, snc, 64100 Teramo, Italy
² INFN – Sezione di Perugia, Via Pascoli, 123, 06123 Perugia, Italy
³ Institute of Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 48 Pyatnitskaya Str, 119017 Moscow, Russia
e-mail: lev.yungelson@gmail.com
⁴ Departamento de Física Teórica y del Cosmos, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
e-mail: eduardo.bravo@ugr.es

Received: 17 March 2024
Accepted: 27 May 2024

Abstract

Context. Binary systems harboring a low-mass CO WD and a He-rich donor are considered to be the possible progenitors of explosive events via He detonation, producing low-luminosity thermonuclear supernovae with a peculiar nucleosynthetic pattern. Recently, the binary system PTF J223857.11+743015.1 was proposed as a candidate for this kind of stars.

Aims. We investigate the evolution of the PTF J223857.11+743015.1 system, which is composed of a 0.75 M_⊙ CO WD and a 0.390 M_⊙ subdwarf. We consider the rotation of the WD component.

Methods. Using the FuNS code, we computed the evolution of the two stars simultaneously, taking into account the possible evolution of the orbital parameters, as determined by mass transfer between the components and by mass ejection from the system during episodes of Roche lobe overflow. We consider that the WD gains angular momentum due to accretion and we followed the evolution of the angular velocity profile as determined by angular momentum transport via convection and rotation-induced instabilities.

Results. As the donor H-rich envelope is transferred, the WD experiences recurrent very strong H-flashes triggering Roche lobe overflow episodes during which the entirety of the accreted matter is lost from the system. Due to mixing of chemicals by rotation-induced instabilities during the accretion phase, H-flashes occur inside the original WD. Hence, pulse by pulse, the mass of the accretor is reduced down to 0.7453 M_⊙. Afterwards, when He-rich matter is transferred, He detonation does not occur in the rotating WD, which undergoes six very strong He-flashes and subsequent mass-loss episodes. Also in this case, due to rotation-induced mixing of the accreted layers with the underlying core, the WD is eroded. Later, as the mass-transfer rate from the donor decreases, a massive He buffer is piled up onto the accretor, which ends its life as a cooling WD.

Conclusions. The binary system PTF J2238+743015.1 and all other binary systems with components of similar masses and similar orbital parameters are not good candidates as thermonuclear explosion progenitors.