TUNA Lunch Talk:

Aaron Jackson

Stony Brook University, Department of Physics & Astronomy

Exploring Systematic Effects of Type Ia Supernovae

October 5

12:10PM, Room 230, NRAO, Edgemont Road

Abstract:

Light curves of type Ia supernovae (SNeIa) form a remarkably homogeneous class of observations seemingly dependent on a single parameter. Once normalized, these light curves serve as distance indicators and have led to the discovery of dark energy. Despite their important cosmological role, details of the mechanism of SNeIa and the effect of properties of the host galaxy remain incompletely understood. Performing simulations under the scenario of a the central explosion of a single C-O white dwarf approaching the Chandrasekhar mass by accretion, we explore some effects of age and metallicity of the host stellar population on the explosion outcome. Our simulations determine the yield of products in nuclear statistical equilibrium (NSE), which along with the electron fraction, provides an estimate of the amount of radioactive Ni-56 synthesized during the explosion that powers the light curve. Our results offer an explanation for some observed trends of peak brightness with the environment of the host galaxy.