Research Topic: Supernovae

Research Topic: Supernovae

Research Topic: SupernovaeChelsea Braun

Credit: Artist illustration ESO, http://www.universetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/2006-1130supernova.jpgOverview What is a Supernova? Types of Supernovae Supernovae in NGC 4088 The Questions Research Paper 1: Supernova Research Paper 2: NGC 4088 RelevanceWhat is a Supernova? A supernova is an exploding star A large explosion of energy that spews out gas and dust into space100x more energy than the sun will produce over its main sequence lifeShine brightly for many weeks then fade in months or possibly years(Carroll BW, Ostlie DA. 2007)

Types Of Supernovae Supernovae are classified by their emission spectra lines There are two classes: Type IType II(Carroll BW, Ostlie DA. 2007)

Credit: www.dujs.dartmouth.edu/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/picture-16.pngCredit: NASA, www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hst_SN_1987A_20th_anniversay.orgType IContain NO hydrogen emission lines There are 3 subclasses of Type I: Type IaShows strong Si II lines at 615nmType IbShows strong helium linesType Ic shows the absence of helium lines(Carroll BW, Ostlie DA. 2007)Type IIContains hydrogen emission linesFound in the massive star forming regions of spiral and irregular galaxiesThought to originate from massive stars(Carroll BW, Ostlie DA. 2007)Supernovae classification

Credit: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/astro/snovcn.html#c3Supernovae in NGC 4088NGC 4088 is a weakly barred spiral galaxy SAB(rs)bc 2 recorded supernovaBoth Type II

Credit: Bonnie Fisher and Mike Shade/Adam Block/NOAO/AURA/NSF(SIMBAD database)The Questions Is it possible to detect any of these supernovas in the images generated at GAO?What does a supernova tell us about a galaxy? What types of supernovas appear in what galaxies and where?Research Paper 1: SupernovaSupernovae and Massive Star Formation Regions

Schuyler D. Van Dyk, Mario Hamuy, Alexei V. Filippenko

What were the authors studying?Finding the degree of association between Type Ib/c and Type II supernovas with HII regions in spiral and irregular galaxiesDetermining if there is any difference between Type Ib/c and Type II progenitors

(Van Dyk SD, Hamuy M, Filippenko AV. 1996)(Van Dyk SD, Hamuy M, Filippenko AV. 1996)Research Paper 1: SupernovaHow did they study it?Detected emission lines from H that arise from photons emitted by hot, massive young stars (this detects the HII regions in question)Compared SN locations with center of HII regionsDetails on the data that was used?

Research Paper 1: SupernovaConclusion?Degree of association of Type Ib/c and II with HII are not significantly different: both are associated with massive star forming regionsSupports that the difference between Ib/c and II are due to binarity and interaction in SN Ib/c progenitor stellar systems Future Studies?Complementary studies with higher resolution using the Hubble Space Telescope allowing for a further detailed statistical analysis

(Van Dyk SD, Hamuy M, Filippenko AV. 1996)Research Paper 2: NGC 4088Observations of the Type II-P SN 1991G in NGC 4088

Elizabeth L. Blanton, Brian P. Schmidt, Robert P. Kirshner, Charles H. Ford, Frederick R. Chromey, William Herbst

What were the authors studying?locationSN type classificationExplosion dateDuration timeNi output(Blanton EL et al. 1995)Research Paper 2: NGC 4088 How did they study it?Photometry and spectroscopyDistanceExplosion dateLight curve analysisMagnitude over timeClassifying type of SN II as a plateau

(Blanton EL et al. 1995)

Research Paper 2: NGC 4088 Details on the data usedWesleyan Universitys Van Vleck Observatory0.6m Cassegrain TelescopeThermoelectrically cooled PM512 CCDExposure: 100 sec, 3-5 exposures per filter Double beam spectrograph5m Hale TelescopeMultiple mirror telescopeRed channel spectrograph

(Blanton EL et al. 1995)Research Paper 2: NGC 4088 Conclusion:Classified Type II-PPlateau ~120 daysCompared to other SN and might indicate a relation between Ni and energy outputRelevance Research paper 1:supernovae of Type II and Type Ib/c develop massive star forming regionsA supernova in a galaxy of these types would then be a good indicator of the star forming regions Research paper 2:From the light curves, the images at GAO would not be able to detect this supernova, as it should be too faintLook into the detection of the more recent supernova of 2009

CitationsBlanton EL et al. 1995. Observations of the Type II-P SN 1991G in NGC 4088. AJ. 110: 2868-2875Carroll BW, Ostlie DA. 2007. An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics. Pp. 524-550. San Francisco: Pearson Education, Inc. 2nd ed.SIMBAD database, CDS, Strasbourgh, FranceAladin Sky Atlas, CDS, Strasbourgh, FranceVan Dyk SD. 2009. What are Supernovae?. Last visited: Mar 1, 2012.http://spider.ipac.caltech.edu/staff/vandyk/supernova.htmlVan Dyk SD, Hamuy M, Filippenko AV. 1996. Supernovae and Massive Star Formation Regions. AJ. 111: 2017-2027SN1991G Occurred 1991 Type II location:48.1 W and 9.6 S of center of NGC 4088

(SIMBAD database)Credit:Aladin SN2009ddOccurred April 13, 2009 Type II location:1 W and 3 S of center of NGC 4088

(SIMBAD database)Credit: Aladin