Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics – Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2010-06-30
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics
To appear in Nature, 1st July 2010 issue. 36 pages including supplementary materials. 4 figures, 3 supplementary figures, 1 su
Scientific paper
Type Ia Supernovae (SNe Ia) form an observationally uniform class of stellar explosions, in that more luminous objects have smaller decline-rates. This one-parameter behavior allows SNe Ia to be calibrated as cosmological `standard candles', and led to the discovery of an accelerating Universe. Recent investigations, however, have revealed that the true nature of SNe Ia is more complicated. Theoretically, it has been suggested that the initial thermonuclear sparks are ignited at an offset from the centre of the white-dwarf (WD) progenitor, possibly as a result of convection before the explosion. Observationally, the diversity seen in the spectral evolution of SNe Ia beyond the luminosity decline-rate relation is an unresolved issue. Here we report that the spectral diversity is a consequence of random directions from which an asymmetric explosion is viewed. Our findings suggest that the spectral evolution diversity is no longer a concern in using SNe Ia as cosmological standard candles. Furthermore, this indicates that ignition at an offset from the centre of is a generic feature of SNe Ia.
Benetti Stefano
Elias-Rosa Nancy
Folatelli Gaston
Hamuy Mario
Leloudas Giorgos
No associations
LandOfFree
An asymmetric explosion as the origin of spectral evolution diversity in type Ia supernovae does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with An asymmetric explosion as the origin of spectral evolution diversity in type Ia supernovae, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and An asymmetric explosion as the origin of spectral evolution diversity in type Ia supernovae will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-154246