Supernova 1987A, one year later: A summary of the La Thuile Symposium

The Conference reviewed what we have learned after one year from SN 1987A. In particular, new information continues to come in daily on the evolving spectra, including X-rays and gamma rays. We now know the light curve was indeed powered by (56)Co decay. The neutrino data from IMB and Kamioka continues to be analyzed. It is fit very well by a standard collapse to a neutron star although some nagging problems with the angular distribution remain. Constraints on neutrino and other weakly interacting particle properties have been developed that rival or exceed terrestrial laboratory results. The question of the counts detected by the Mt. Blanc neutrino detector had new mysteries added at this meeting as reports of multiple coincidences with gravitational wave detectors at Maryland and Rome were presented. Future supernova rates were also discussed. It was argued that neutrino detection from a future supernova in our Galaxy might be the only way to prove that the upsilon_tau was the dominant matter of the Universe.