Cr. Eck et al., RADIO OBSERVATIONS OF THE TYPE IA SUPERNOVA 1986G AS A TEST OF A SYMBIOTIC-STAR PROGENITOR, The Astrophysical journal, 451(2), 1995, pp. 53-55
Searches for prompt radio emission from Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) ha
ve been proposed as a test of the symbiotic-star progenitor scenario,
in which a white dwarf accretes mass from the wind of a companion red
giant (Boffi & Branch 1995a). We report the results of a VLA search fo
r radio emission from the Type Ia supernova 1986G in NGC 5128 (Centaur
us A), 1 week before its optical maximum. These observations allow us
to establish earlier and lower limits on SN Ia radio emission than pre
viously available. Our 3 sigma upper limits of 1.0 mJy at 6 cm and 0.7
mJy at 2 cm indicate that the progenitor of SN 1986G probably was not
a symbiotic star. SN 1986G was a peculiar Type Ia supernova, and furt
her searches for prompt radio emission from other SNe Ia are needed to
more thoroughly test the symbiotic-star progenitor scenario.