Swift Provides A New View On Supernovae
Abstract
Throughout history, observational supernova studies have focused almost exclusively on their strong optical emission powered by the radioactive decay of Nickel. Yet many of the leading breakthroughs in our understanding of supernovae and their progenitors have been enabled by observations at other wavelengths. In particular, X-ray observations of young supernovae traces the properties of the very fastest ejecta. These observations lead to direct constraints on the temperature of the shock-heated material, the density of the circumstellar environment, and the velocity and kinetic energy of the fastest ejecta. As I will discuss, these observations can distinguish GRB-SNe from ordinary core-collapse SNe, and have the potential to reveal the illusive nature of Type Ia SN progenitors (single vs. double degenerate.) On behalf of the Swift SN Team, I will present exciting new results stemming from our Swift/XRT follow-up of nearby supernovae.
- Publication:
-
AAS/High Energy Astrophysics Division #10
- Pub Date:
- March 2008
- Bibcode:
- 2008HEAD...10.1902S