Supernovae in 3-D:
Jennifer L. Hoffman,
Peter Nugent, Daniel Kasen, R. C. Thomas, |
| Recent theoretical and observational advances promise to
revolutionize the study of supernovae by allowing us to glimpse the
three-dimensional structure of supernova ejecta. Increases in
supercomputing capabilities have encouraged the development of
three-dimensional hydrodynamical supernova explosion models, while
spectropolarimetric observations with 8m-class telescopes now provide
detailed information on the geometrical characteristics of supernova
ejecta. The combination of these cutting-edge developments creates the
potential for a major breakthrough in our understanding of supernova
explosions. For such a breakthrough to occur, however, new 3-D models must be tested against spectropolarimetric observations, while observed spectropolarimetric phenomena must be interpreted in light of hydrodynamical considerations. In this poster, we introduce a new collaboration between research groups at UC Berkeley and LBNL to develop spectrum synthesis and radiative transfer codes that will calculate the spectropolarimetric consequences of hydrodynamical explosion models, thus bridging the gap between observations and theory. With these codes, we will predict observable features of explosion models and analyze existing and future spectropolarimetry in the context of these models. This combined approach will allow us to constrain supernova progenitor characteristics, test explosion mechanisms, investigate potential bias in the determination of cosmological parameters, and advance our understanding of these geometrically and dynamically complex systems. |
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For more information, please send email to Jennifer. March 17, 2006 |