An Emerging Coherent Picture of Red Supergiant Supernova Explosions

TL;DR

This paper synthesizes observational data, models, and simulations to propose a unified understanding of how core collapse supernovae from red supergiants deposit energy into their ejecta, linking progenitor mass to explosion characteristics.

Contribution

It introduces a coherent framework connecting progenitor mass, explosion energy, and observable supernova features, advancing the understanding of supernova explosion mechanisms.

Findings

Energy in ejecta proportional to progenitor mass cubed

Correlation between light curve plateau duration and progenitor mass

Relationship between ejecta velocity and luminosity

Abstract

Three lines of evidence indicate that in the most common type of core collapse supernovae, the energy deposited in the ejecta by the exploding core is approximately proportional to the progenitor mass cubed. This results stems from an observed uniformity of light curve plateau duration, a correlation between mass and ejecta velocity, and the known correlation between luminosity and velocity. This result ties in analytical and numerical models together with observations, providing us with clues as to the mechanism via which the explosion of the core deposits a small fraction of its energy into the hurled envelope.