Supernova spectral synthesis modeling: results on nucleosynthesis and exotic explosions

by Anders Jerkstrand

Friday 20 Jan 2017, 10:30 → 11:30 Europe/Stockholm

FC61

Massive stars play an important role in Astrophysics.They are believed to produce most of the heavy elements in the Universe, injecting these into space when they explode as a supernova. However, little is known about which stars produce which supernovae, what nucleosynthesis products are made in what quantities, and what constraints this has on the explosion mechanism. I discuss spectral synthesis modeling techniques aimed at determining nucleosynthesis yields and progenitor populations of various supernova classes. I focus on two particular applications : the analysis of explosive burning yields of stable nickel, which has given us a diagnostic of the innermost explosive process right outside the compact object, and the analysis of the new and exotic class of super-luminous supernovae.