Abstract

We present the V light curve and optical/infrared spectra of the Type Ic SN 1997B. We show that (1) this SN displayed lines of the He I series; (2)the expansion velocities were higher than those of SNe with traces of H or large He masses in their envelopes (like SN 1993J); the light curve of SN 1997B decayed slower than that of SN 1993J. The smaller mass to kinetic energy ratio and shallower light curve of SN 1997B are inconsistent with it being a He stripped version of some of the best studied Type Ib or II-transition SNe. We infer that Type Ib/c and II-transition SN progenitors come, at least, with two different types of inner structure.

Introduction

A few years ago the presence of He in the atmospheres of Type Ic SNe, the nature of their progenitors, and the relation between Type Ib and Type Ic SNe was subject of debate. On the one hand, empirical evidence and theoretical interpretation supported the view that SNe of Type Ib and Ic are different enough to insure that their progenitors result from different paths of stellar evolution. If so, Type Ic SNe originated in bare C+O cores and were expected not to display He I lines in their spectra. On the other hand, it was stressed that Type Ib and Ic SNe could originate in similar stars evolving as interacting binaries.