Analysis of the early spectra and light curve of SN 1987A

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (19) References (29) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Analysis of the Early Spectra and Light Curve of SN 1987A Hauschildt, Peter H. ; Ensman, Lisa M. Abstract Numerical modeling of supernova spectra, light curves, and hydrodynamics requires physical inputs, numerical techniques, approximations, and assumptions which must be thoroughly understood in order to study the details of supernova explosions. Here, we discuss some of these in the context of the early evolution of supernova 1987A. Gray radiation-hydrodynamics is used to calculate the bolometric light curve and the hydrodynamic evolution of the supernova. Synthetic spectra are then obtained for the resulting density and velocity structure. The spectrum calculations are performed using a special-relativistic treatment of the radiative transfer equation in the comoving frame, line blanketing by about 10^5^ spectral lines, and departures from LTE for H I, He I, Mg II, and Ca II. We find that we are able to simultaneously fit the early light curve and spectra reasonably well, using a progenitor model from Arnett (1991a), without fine-tuning the free parameters. Temperature structures and radiative equilibrium, non-LTE effects, homologous expansion, and mean opacities are discussed. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: April 1994 DOI: 10.1086/173939 Bibcode: 1994ApJ...424..905H Keywords: Hydrodynamics; Light Curve; Radiative Transfer; Relativity; Stellar Evolution; Stellar Models; Stellar Spectra; Supernova 1987a; Calcium; Density Distribution; Helium; Hydrogen; Magnesium; Mathematical Models; Numerical Analysis; Opacity; Temperature Distribution; Velocity Distribution; Astrophysics full text sources ADS | data products NED (2) SIMBAD (1) MAST (1)