Mapping Core-Collapse and Superluminous Supernova Observables to Their Progenitors

This book presents the discovery or explanation of three new classes of supernovae utilizing data from the Global Supernova Project which brings together new wide-field and high-cadence transient surveys that enable the astrophysics community to watch supernovae from the moment of explosion. Firstly, electron-capture supernovae are a class of supernovae theorized for 40 years, whose discovery detailed within bridges the gap between massive star explosions and the fate of stars with the mass of the Sun. This has implications for stellar astrophysics, gravitational-wave events, and cosmic nucleosynthesis. The second major insight concerns short-plateau supernovae, supernovae that remain at a nearly constant brightness for approximately 2 months, in contravention to nearly all other similar supernovae. The author’s light-curve model grid places them in a rare transitional class near high mass supergiant progenitors, where direct collapse to black holes may be expected. Thirdly, superlinear superluminous supernovae are much brighter than previously thought possible and show an unusual linear decline in brightness, only a few examples of which have been found. The author’s models suggest the supernova explosion is sweeping up material lost from the progenitor star and its stellar companion in the last few years of its life. The new discoveries and insights presented within have major implications for many areas of astrophysics and physics in general.