On the Pair-instability Supernova Origin of J1010+2358

Abstract

The first (Population III) stars formed only out of H and He and were likely more massive than present-day stars. Massive Population III stars in the range 140–260 M _⊙ are predicted to end their lives as pair-instability supernovae (PISNe), enriching the environment with a unique abundance pattern, with high ratios of odd to even elements. Recently, the most promising candidate for a pure descendant of a zero-metallicity massive PISN (260 M _⊙ ) was discovered by the LAMOST survey, the star J1010+2358. However, key elements to verify the high PISN contribution, C and Al, were missing from the analysis. To rectify this, we obtained and analyzed a high-resolution Very Large Telescope/UVES spectrum, correcting for 3D and/or non-local thermodynamic equilibrium effects. Our measurements of both C and Al give much higher values (∼1 dex) than expected from a 260 M _⊙ PISN. Furthermore, we find significant discrepancies with the previous analysis and therefore a much less pronounced odd–even pattern. Our results show that J1010+2358 cannot be a pure descendant of a 260 M _⊙ PISN. Instead, we find that the best-fit model consists of a 13 M _⊙ Population II core-collapse supernova combined with a Population III supernova. Alternative, less favored solutions ( ${\chi }^{2}/{\chi }_{\mathrm{best}}^{2}\approx 2.3$ ) include a 50% contribution from a 260 M _⊙ PISN or a 40% contribution from a Population III Type Ia supernova. Ultimately, J1010+2358 is certainly a unique star giving insights into the earliest chemical enrichment; however, this star is not a pure PISN descendant.

Keywords

• Galactic archaeology
• Population III stars
• Milky Way stellar halo
• Early universe
• Stellar abundances
• Chemical abundances