Luminosity distribution of Type II supernova progenitors

I present progenitor luminosities (L) for a sample of 112 Type II supernovae (SNe II), computed directly from progenitor photometry and the bolometric correction technique, or indirectly from empirical correlations between progenitor luminosity and [OI] lambda lambda 6300, 6364 line luminosity at 350 d since explosion, Ni-56 mass, or absolute V-band magnitude at 50 d since explosion. To calibrate these correlations, I use 12 SNe II with progenitor luminosities measured from progenitor photometry. I find that the correlations mentioned above are strong and statistically significant, and allow to estimate progenitor luminosities to a precision between 20 and 24 per cent. I correct the SN sample for selection bias and define a subsample of 112 SNe II with progenitor luminosities between log (L/L-circle dot) = 4.6 dex, corresponding to the completeness limit of the corrected sample, and the maximum observed progenitor luminosity of log (L/L-circle dot) = 5.091 dex. The luminosity distribution for this subsample is statistically consistent with those for red supergiants (RSGs) in LMC, SMC, M31, and M33 with 4.6 <= log (L/L-circle dot) <= 5.091. This supports that SN II progenitors correspond to RSGs. The conspicuous absence of SN II progenitors with log (L/L-circle dot) > 5.1 dex with respect to what is observed in RSG luminosity distributions, known as the RSG problem, is significant at a 5.2 +/- 0.5 sigma level.

Automated summary

In this study, progenitor luminosities of Type II supernovae (SNe II) are estimated directly from progenitor photometry or indirectly from empirical correlations. The correlations show strong statistical significance and allow for precise estimation of progenitor luminosities. The luminosity distribution of a subsample of 112 SNe II is consistent with that of red supergiants (RSGs), supporting the hypothesis that SN II progenitors correspond to RSGs. However, the absence of SNe II progenitors with higher luminosities compared to RSG luminosity distributions is statistically significant, known as the RSG problem.