Core-collapse Supernovae and their massive progenitors


10 Nov 2006

Venue: RAS (London)

Low and intermediate mass stars end their lives quietly as white dwarfs, whilst massive stars (>8Mo) die violently as core-collapse supernovae (SNe). During their lives they provide feedback to the ISM via their powerful stellar winds, ionizing fluxes and chemically processed material. Neutron stars or black holes are produced during their core-collapse, associated with either Type II or Ib/c SN. In rare Type Ic hypernovae, long-soft Gamma Ray Bursts are als observed. Recent theoretical and observational studies of the end points of massive stellar evolution are now being linked with the diversity of SN properties. This discussion meeting will discuss theory and observations of core collapse SNe and their massive star progenitors and how this impacts upon our understanding of the explosions.

Weblink: http://www.shef.ac.uk/physics/people/pacrowther/ras.html

Email: Paul.Crowther@sheffield.ac.uk