2019MNRAS.482..438M

Based on the work of Menon & Heger, we present the bolometric light curves and spectra of the explosions of blue supergiant progenitors from binary mergers. We study SN 1987A and two other peculiar Type IIP supernovae: SN 1998A and SN 2006V. The progenitor models were produced using the stellar evolution code KEPLER and then exploded using the 1D radiation hydrodynamic code CRAB. The explosions of binary merger models exhibit an overall better fit to the light curve of SN 1987A than previous single star models because of their lower helium-core masses, larger envelope masses, and smaller radii. The merger model that best matches the observational constraints of the progenitor of SN 1987A and the light curve is a model with a radius of 37 R_☉, an ejecta mass of 20.6M_☉, an explosion energy of 1.7×10⁵¹ erg, a nickel mass of 0.073M_☉, and a nickel mixing velocity of 3¡000 km s^–1. This model also works for SN 1998A and is comparable with earlier estimates from semi-analytic models. In the case of SN 2006V, however, a model with a radius of 150R_☉ and ejecta mass of 19.1M_☉ matches the light curve. These parameters are significantly higher than predictions from semi-analytic models for the progenitor of this supernova.