Astronomy and astrophysics

Spectroscopic modeling of nebular-phase supernovae

by Anders Jerkstrand

Europe/Stockholm
FA31

FA31

Description
Most of the heavy elements in the universe are created by massive stars and ejected in supernovae. A few months after explosion, the inner layers of the supernova become visible, and we can analyse the nucleosynthetic yields and the properties of the explosion. Interpretation of the spectra requires the computation of non-thermal processes caused by radioactive decays, statistical and thermal equilibrium in a large number of zones of distinct chemical composition, and radiative transport simulations of the multi-line transfer occuring in the homologous flow. I discuss the development of such computational tools and their application to the 8-20 year spectra of SN 1987A, as well as to the 1-2 year spectra of other Type II SNe.