SN 2007bi
Encyclopedia
SN 2007bi was an extremely energetic supernova
discovered early in 2007 by the international Nearby Supernova Factory
based at the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
. The precursor star is estimated to have had 200 solar masses at the time of its formation and around 100 solar masses in its core when it went supernova. The explosion ejected more than 22 solar masses of silicon and other heavy elements into space during this supernova including more than 6 solar masses of radioactive nickel which caused the expanding gases to glow very brightly for many months.
The supernova has been described as an unambiguous fit for the pair-instability supernova
model.
Supernova
A supernova is a stellar explosion that is more energetic than a nova. It is pronounced with the plural supernovae or supernovas. Supernovae are extremely luminous and cause a burst of radiation that often briefly outshines an entire galaxy, before fading from view over several weeks or months...
discovered early in 2007 by the international Nearby Supernova Factory
Nearby Supernova Factory
The Nearby Supernova Factory is a collaborative experiment led by Greg Aldering, designed to collect data on more Type Ia supernovae than have ever been studied in a single project before, and by studying them, to increase understanding of the expanding universe and "Dark Energy."The project began...
based at the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , is a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory conducting unclassified scientific research. It is located on the grounds of the University of California, Berkeley, in the Berkeley Hills above the central campus...
. The precursor star is estimated to have had 200 solar masses at the time of its formation and around 100 solar masses in its core when it went supernova. The explosion ejected more than 22 solar masses of silicon and other heavy elements into space during this supernova including more than 6 solar masses of radioactive nickel which caused the expanding gases to glow very brightly for many months.
The supernova has been described as an unambiguous fit for the pair-instability supernova
Pair-instability supernova
A pair-instability supernova occurs when pair production, the production of free electrons and positrons in the collision between atomic nuclei and energetic gamma rays, reduces thermal pressure inside a supermassive star's core...
model.
External links
- New Scientist, "Death of rare giant star sheds light on cosmic past"
- Science Daily, "Superbright Supernova Is First of Its Kind"
- Keck Observatory, "First of its kind superbright supernova"
- Nature, "Full report submitted by scientists to the journal Nature"
- Weizmann Institute, "First hand description of the study"