Supernova explosions

Description

Targeting advanced students of astronomy and physics, as well as astronomers and physicists contemplating research on supernovae or related fields, David Branch and J. Craig Wheeler offer a modern account of the nature, causes and consequences of supernovae, as well as of issues that remain to be resolved. Owing especially to (1) the appearance of supernova 1987A in the nearby Large Magellanic Cloud, (2) the spectacularly successful use of supernovae as distance indicators for cosmology, (3) the association of some supernovae with the enigmatic cosmic gamma-ray bursts, and (4) the discovery of a class of superluminous supernovae, the pace of supernova research has been increasing sharply. This monograph serves as a broad survey of modern supernova research and a guide to the current literature. The book’s emphasis is on the explosive phases of supernovae. Part 1 is devoted to a survey of the kinds of observations that inform us about supernovae, some basic interpretations of such data, and an overview of the evolution of stars that brings them to an explosive endpoint. Part 2 goes into more detail on core-collapse and superluminous events: which kinds of stars produce them, and how do they do it? Part 3 is concerned with the stellar progenitors and explosion mechanisms of thermonuclear (Type Ia) supernovae. Part 4 is about consequences of supernovae and some applications to astrophysics and cosmology. References are provided in sufficient number to help the reader enter the literature. Read more... Abstract: Targeting advanced students of astronomy and physics, as well as astronomers and physicists contemplating research on supernovae or related fields, David Branch and J. Craig Wheeler offer a modern account of the nature, causes and consequences of supernovae, as well as of issues that remain to be resolved. Owing especially to (1) the appearance of supernova 1987A in the nearby Large Magellanic Cloud, (2) the spectacularly successful use of supernovae as distance indicators for cosmology, (3) the association of some supernovae with the enigmatic cosmic gamma-ray bursts, and (4) the discovery of a class of superluminous supernovae, the pace of supernova research has been increasing sharply. This monograph serves as a broad survey of modern supernova research and a guide to the current literature. The book’s emphasis is on the explosive phases of supernovae. Part 1 is devoted to a survey of the kinds of observations that inform us about supernovae, some basic interpretations of such data, and an overview of the evolution of stars that brings them to an explosive endpoint. Part 2 goes into more detail on core-collapse and superluminous events: which kinds of stars produce them, and how do they do it? Part 3 is concerned with the stellar progenitors and explosion mechanisms of thermonuclear (Type Ia) supernovae. Part 4 is about consequences of supernovae and some applications to astrophysics and cosmology. References are provided in sufficient number to help the reader enter the literature Front Matter ....Pages i-xix Front Matter ....Pages 1-1 Overview (David Branch, J. Craig Wheeler)....Pages 3-21 Search and Discovery (David Branch, J. Craig Wheeler)....Pages 23-31 Environments and Rates of Supernovae (David Branch, J. Craig Wheeler)....Pages 33-45 Spectra (David Branch, J. Craig Wheeler)....Pages 47-74 Light Curves (David Branch, J. Craig Wheeler)....Pages 75-100 Circumstellar Interaction (David Branch, J. Craig Wheeler)....Pages 101-113 Supernova Remnants (David Branch, J. Craig Wheeler)....Pages 115-134 Evolution to Catastrophe (David Branch, J. Craig Wheeler)....Pages 135-169 Front Matter ....Pages 171-171 Core Collapse (David Branch, J. Craig Wheeler)....Pages 173-209 Pair-Instability Supernova Models (David Branch, J. Craig Wheeler)....Pages 211-218 Supernova 1987A (David Branch, J. Craig Wheeler)....Pages 219-243 Type IIP Supernovae (David Branch, J. Craig Wheeler)....Pages 245-265 Type IIL Supernovae (David Branch, J. Craig Wheeler)....Pages 267-280 Type IIn Supernovae (David Branch, J. Craig Wheeler)....Pages 281-318 Type IIb Supernovae (David Branch, J. Craig Wheeler)....Pages 319-344 Type Ib Supernovae (David Branch, J. Craig Wheeler)....Pages 345-377 Type Ic Supernovae (David Branch, J. Craig Wheeler)....Pages 379-412 Superluminous Supernovae (David Branch, J. Craig Wheeler)....Pages 413-433 Front Matter ....Pages 435-435 Degenerate Carbon Burning (David Branch, J. Craig Wheeler)....Pages 437-481 Observational Properties (David Branch, J. Craig Wheeler)....Pages 483-517 Progenitors (David Branch, J. Craig Wheeler)....Pages 519-553 Explosion Models (David Branch, J. Craig Wheeler)....Pages 555-579 Related Explosions (David Branch, J. Craig Wheeler)....Pages 581-594 Front Matter ....Pages 595-595 Consequences of Supernovae (David Branch, J. Craig Wheeler)....Pages 597-624 Applications of Supernovae to Other Areas of Astrophysics and Physics (David Branch, J. Craig Wheeler)....Pages 625-635 Summary and Prospects (David Branch, J. Craig Wheeler)....Pages 637-642 Back Matter ....Pages 643-721