Modeling Supernovae as an Optically Thick Fireball

TL;DR

This paper models 135 supernovae using an optically thick fireball approach, revealing common phases and key differences across types, and providing insights into their evolution and luminosity characteristics.

Contribution

It introduces a simple fireball model applied to a large supernova dataset, identifying universal phases and type-specific properties in supernova evolution.

Findings

Type Ia supernovae are the most luminous and fastest expanding.

A maximum modeled radius occurs after a long growth phase, then flattens or decreases.

Maximum temperature at the radius peak suggests opacity loss due to electron recombination.

Abstract

We calculate the properties of 135 stellar supernovae using data from the Open Supernova Catalog. We generate temperatures, radii, luminosities, and expansion velocities using a spherically symmetric optically thick fireball model. These modeled parameters reveal trends that are common across different types of supernovae. We have identified distinct phases that appear across Type Ia, II, II P, and IIb supernovae. We note that there is a long period of reasonable continuous growth (Phase 1), giving credence to our simple model of an optically thick fireball. The modeled radius reaches a maximum value beyond which it is flat or decreases (Phase 2). The temperature we observe at the maximum modeled radius, 4500 K, suggests that the loss of opacity due to electron recombination sets the timeline where our optically thick model no longer applies. We observe the fastest modeled fireball velocities, largest modeled fireball radii, and maximum modeled luminosities for Type Ia supernovae. As a group, Type Ia supernovae reach a maximum luminosity that is 8.5 times more luminous than Type II supernovae. We present a summary table that contains modeled parameters of supernovae and their timings by supernova classification type.