Core-Collapse Supernovae: Explosions, Nucleosynthesis, and Transients

Title: Core-Collapse Supernovae: Explosions, Nucleosynthesis, and Transients Presenter: Dr. Sanjana Curtis - University of Chicago, US Abstract: Core-collapse supernovae are spectacular explosions that mark the deaths of massive stars. The light from a core-collapse supernova can provide valuable clues about the supernova progenitor, stellar evolution, nucleosynthesis, and the formation of neutron stars and black holes. However, self-consistently connecting progenitor and explosion properties to observed light curves is a formidable challenge, one that requires detailed computational modelling. In this talk, I will present light curves and spectra for a suite of 62 supernova models and show how the light curve morphology relates to the stellar radius and hydrogen envelope mass. I will also describe a first-of-its-kind pipeline I developed, starting from a massive progenitor, through a neutrino-driven explosion in spherical symmetry, to electromagnetic observables. This work opens the door to more detailed analyses of the collective properties of core-collapse supernovae. Bio: Sanjana Curtis is a nuclear astrophysicist interested in the origin of elements and multi-messenger astrophysics. Her research spans two main topics: 1) nucleosynthesis yields and light curves of core-collapse supernovae, and 2) heavy element nucleosynthesis and kilonovae from compact object mergers. Her research involves adding essential microphysics to models of multi-messenger events, such as supernovae and mergers, and connecting these models to multi-messenger observables.