Late Time STIS Spectroscopy of the Extremely Nearby Type Ia SN 2011fe
Abstract
In the first 2-3 months after the explosion of a Type Ia supernova, the innermost layers of the ejecta are concealed from view by a brilliant pseudo-photosphere. Observations obtained many months later, when the ejecta become nebular, enable us to peer deep into these layers and probe different explosion physics than is possible earlier on --- but at a cost. By this point, the supernova has faded dramatically, so only the closest events may be observed. SN 2011fe is the nearest Type Ia supernova discovered in a quarter century. We propose to obtain STIS spectroscopy of this remarkable supernova, a year after explosion, and combine these space-based observations with ground-based optical and near-infrared spectroscopy for analysis. Using the focusing lens of radiative transfer simulations, we will constrain the amount of radioactive nickel produced in the explosion, explore the extent of large-scale hydrodynamical mixing, and reconstruct the abundance stratification of the innermost ejecta. SN 2011fe represents a unprecedented opportunity to study how Type Ia supernovae explode, and is likely to remain so for decades to come.
- Publication:
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HST Proposal
- Pub Date:
- October 2012
- Bibcode:
- 2012hst..prop12948T