All articles tagged with #core collapse supernovae
New simulations with detailed momentum-space neutrino transport show fast flavor conversions can both promote and hinder supernova explosions, making low-mass stars explode more readily while heavier stars become less likely; the study highlights the need for Boltzmann-like transport to accurately capture flavor dynamics and warns simpler models can misidentify where flavor conversions occur.
Astronomers have discovered 12 new long-rising Type II supernovae as part of the Zwicky Transient Facility Census of the Local Universe, nearly doubling the number of known supernovae of this subclass. Type II supernovae are the result of the rapid collapse and violent explosion of massive stars, and are distinguished by the presence of hydrogen in their spectra. The newfound Type II supernovae have rise times ranging from 67 to 96 days and dome-shaped light curves in r-band photometry, and all have peak absolute magnitudes consistent with previous studies of the known long-rising Type II supernovae.
The Pinwheel Galaxy, also known as M101, has a visible Type II supernova named SN 2023ixf, which can be seen with a small telescope. This supernova is expected to brighten a bit more over the next couple of months before gradually fading. The observations of this supernova will help astronomers better understand the evolution of core-collapse supernovae and how they enrich the universe with heavy elements.