English

Bright Supernovae from Magnetar Birth

High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena 2015-05-14 v1 Solar and Stellar Astrophysics

Abstract

Following an initial explosion that might be launched either by magnetic interactions or neutrinos, a rotating magnetar radiating according to the classic dipole formula could power a very luminous supernova. While some 56Ni might be produced in the initial explosion, the peak of the light curve in a Type I supernova would not be directly related to its mass. In fact, the peak luminosity would be most sensitive to the dipole field strength of the magnetar. The tail of the light curve could resemble radioactive decay for some time but, assuming complete trapping of the pulsar emission, would eventually be brighter. Depending on the initial explosion energy, both high and moderate velocities could accompany a very luminous light curve.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0911.0698,
  title  = {Bright Supernovae from Magnetar Birth},
  author = {S. E. Woosley},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0911.0698},
  year   = {2015}
}

Comments

submitted to Astrophysical Journal Letters

R2 v1 2026-06-21T14:07:14.555Z