The supernova (SN) group at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics has been using the facilities of the F. L. Whipple Observatory to gather optical photometric and spectroscopic data on nearby supernovae for several years. The collection of spectra of Type Ia SNe is now large enough to allow a comprehensive analysis. I will present preliminary results from a study of a subsample of the CfA Type Ia spectroscopic database, with over 200 spectra of 31 Type Ia SNe. The SNe selected all have well-calibrated light curves and cover a wide scope of luminosity classes. The epochs of observation range from fourteen days before maximum to fifty days past maximum. All of the spectra were obtained with the same instrument on the same telescope, and were reduced using the same techniques. With such a large, homogeneous data set, the spectroscopic similarities and differences among Type Ia SNe become readily apparent.

The spectroscopy of a supernova (SN) just after its discovery is quite important not only for the spectral type classification but also for the planning further follow-up observations or the target-of-opportunity observations (ToOs). The early spectroscopy is needed also because the information from the outermost envelope of such exploding objects as SNe cannot be obtained in the later phase. In order to obtain the early spectrum, the quick circulation of the discovery information is important. We introduce our contributions with the public astronomical observatories in Japan, including the case of “hypernova” SN 2002ap discovered by a Japanese amateur astronomer. We summarize the time interval between the discoveries, the announcements, and the first spectral classifications of recent SNe, and discuss what would be required for the early spectroscopy.

Light curves are the most readily available and most frequently used astrophysical tools for variable phenomena. Supernovae are no exception to this. The information that can be extracted from detailed light and colors curves, together with the detailed study of the spectral evolution, tells us about the progenitor star, the various energy input sources, the explosion environment, material in the line of sight and cosmological effects. Over the past decade we have come to understand the power of detailed light curve studies and how they tie into the exploration of other astrophysical topics.

At late times, the energy deposition in the ejecta of type Ia supernovae is dominated by the slowing of energetic positrons produced in 56Co → 56Fe decays. Through comparisons of simulations of energy deposition in SN Ia models with observed light curves from supernovae, we study the positron transport and thus the magnetic fields of SNe Ia. In this paper, we summarize the current status of these investigations, emphasizing the observations made of two recent SNe Ia, 1999by and 2000cx.

Regular photometric observations of sufficiently bright northern supernovae are carried out at Sternberg Astronomical Institute’s observatories. Since 1998 the observations of more than 60 supernovae were obtained on about 150 nights with different telescopes and detectors. We present the data of the observation program, the parameters of light curves for 18 SNe and the light curves for SNe 1999aa, 2001B, 2002bo.

We present spectroscopic and photometric data of a sample of Type II plateau Supernovae, covering a wide range of properties from the 56Ni rich, high luminosity events (e.g. SN 1992am) to the low-luminosity, 56Ni poor SNe (e.g. SN 1997D). We provide an observational framework to analyze correlations among observational data, physical parameters and progenitors characteristics of Type II supernovae.

X-ray spectra of young supernovae (SNe) can provide information on the progenitor star and the interaction of the supernova ejecta and the circumstellar material. I will discuss some examples, with particular emphasis on SN 1998S, whose X-ray spectrum revealed for the first time in a young supernova a wealth of heavy element emission features (Ne, Al, Si, S, Ar, and Fe). By comparison with detailed calculations of supernova explosion elemental yields, these data can be used to constrain the progenitor mass. With increasingly sophisticated models and additional high quality data, application of this technique could result in many more reliable progenitor mass determinations. In addition, high resolution X-ray spectra allow us to measure the temperature evolution of a supernova and can give us a detailed picture of the progenitor’s pre-supernova evolution. As we build up additional examples from the great diversity of core collapse supernovae, we hope to come to a better understanding of the last stages of massive star evolution.

The Geneva evolutionary code has been modified to study the advanced stages (Ne, O, Si burnings) of rotating massive stars. Here we present the results of four 20 M⊙ stars at solar metallicity with initial rotational velocities, vini, of 0, 100, 200 and 300 km/s in order to show the crucial role of rotation in stellar evolution. As already known, rotation increases mass loss and core masses [4]. A fast rotating 20 M⊙ star has the same central evolution as a non-rotating 26 M⊙. Rotation also increases strongly net total metal yields. Furthermore, rotation changes the SN type so that more SNIb are predicted (see [5] and [6]). Finally, SN1987A-like supernovae progenitor colors can be explained in a single rotating star scenario.

The radiation from the magnetic presupernova star is calculated. This radiation will generate when the magnetosphere of presupernova star compresses during collapse and its magnetic field increases considerably. The variable magnetic field will accelerate the charged particle, which generate radiation when moving in the magnetic field. The particles dynamics and their non-thermal emission in the magnetospheres of presupernova collapsing star with initial dipole magnetic fields and a certain initial energy distribution of charged particles in a magnetosphere are considered. The radiation flux depend on the distance to the star, its magnetic field, and the particle spectrum in the magnetosphere. This flux can be observed by means of modern instruments in broad band (from radio waves to gamma rays). The radiation flux grows with decreasing stellar radius and frequency and can be observed in the form of radiation bursts with duration equal to the stellar collapse time.

We report on recent MERLIN, VLA and VLBI observations of the compact radio sources in the nearby starburst M82, with angular resolutions ranging from arcseconds to milliarcseconds. The spectral properties of the compact sources have been investigated by 15 GHz VLA-Pie Town observations which show that 16 of the less luminous compact sources are, in fact, HII regions. However the steep non-thermal spectrum, parsec size and small variability of the remaining sources is consistent with their being supernova remnants. Several show clear shell structures at MERLIN resolution (~50 mas) and 5 have been resolved further using VLBI. Measurements of the most compact source (41.95+575) shows an expansion velocity of ~ 2000 km s-1, and one of the best defined SNR shells (43.31+592) shows an expansion velocity of ~ 104 km s-1. Recent VLBI and MERLIN measurements confirm this expansion velocity and show little evidence for deceleration. We comment on the discrepancy between this measured expansion velocity and the low expansion velocities predicted theoretically for remnants in M82.

An 8 day MERLIN deep integration at 5GHz of the central region of the starburst galaxy M82 has been used to investigate the radio structure of a number of supernova remnants in unprecedented detail revealing new shells and partial shell structures for the first time. In addition, by comparing the new deep 2002 image with an astrometrically aligned image from 36 hours of data taken in 1992, it has been possible to directly measure the expansion velocities of 4 of the most compact remnants in M82. For the two most compact remnants, 41.95+575 and 43.31+592, expansion velocities of 2800 ± 300 km s-1 and 8750 ± 400kms-1have been derived. These confirm and refine the measured expansion velocities which have been derived from VLBI multi-epoch studies. For remnants 43.18+583 and 44.01+596, expansion velocities of 10500 ± 750km s-1 and 2400 ± 250 kms-1have been measured for the first time. In addition, the peak of the radio emission for SNR 45.17+612 has moved between the two epochs implying velocities around 7500km s-1. The relatively compact remnants in M82 are thus found to be expanding over a wide range of velocities which appear unrelated to their size. The new 2002 map is the most sensitive high-resolution image yet made of M82, achieving an rms noise level of 17μJy beam-1. This establishes a first epoch for subsequent deep studies of expansion velocities for many SNR within M82.

We propose to use the thermal X-ray emission from young supernova remnants (SNRs) originated in Type Ia supernovae (SNe) to extract relevant information concerning the explosion mechanism. We focus on the differences between numerical 1D and 3D explosion calculations, and the impact that these differences could have on the modeling of young SNRs. We use the remnant of the Tycho supernova (SN 1572) as a test case to compare with our predictions, discussing the observational features that allow to accept or discard a given model.

The present status of our understanding of core-collapse and of thermonuclear supernovae is reviewed. It will be argued that the failure of numerical simulations of the collapse of massive stars to produce explosions is probably caused by our incomplete knowledge of the (micro-) physics involved. In contrast, for thermonuclear (type Ia) supernovae the basic physics seems to be well under control and, therefore, it is not surprising that model predictions and observations are in good agreement.

Recent progress in modeling core-collapse supernovae is summarized and set in perspective. Two-dimensional simulations with state-of-the-art treatment of neutrino transport still fail to produce powerful explosions, but evidence is presented that they are very close to a success.

Primordial black holes (PBHs) of microscopical size can completely absorb neutron stars (NSs) and white dwarfs (WDs) for less than the Hubble time. NS absorption is accompanied by inverse URCA process giving rise to emission of antineutrino. However considerable part of these antineutrino fails to escape NS being drawn into the growing black hole by accreting NS matter. The final stage of dense WD absorption is accompanied by 1051 erg neutrino burst able to ignite nuclear burning giving rise to supernova-like WD explosion.

The successful theoretical supernova explosion models should be able to explain any features of the emission from supernovae at any evolutionary stage. We check several models from two different points of view. With the multi-frequency radiation hydro code STELLA we calculate gamma-ray, bolometric and broad-band UBVI light curves. Then we use the same models to calculate the emission from young supernova remnants. Here we present new plots for gamma-ray luminosity from several SN Ia models and recomputations of bolometric and UBVRI light curves of model 13C for SN 1993J.

We present the results of a systematic analysis of a group of Type II plateau supernovae that span a large range in luminosities, from faint objects like SN 1997D and 1999br to very luminous events like SN 1992am. The physical properties of the supernovae appear to be related to the plateau luminosity or the expansion velocity. The simultaneous analysis of the observed light curves, line velocities and continuum temperatures leads us to robust estimates of the physical parameters of the ejected envelope. We find strong correlations among several parameters. The implications of these results regarding the nature of the progenitor, the central remnant and the Ni yield are also addressed.

Results of 2D simulations of the magnetorotational mechanism of supernova type II are presented. Amplification of toroidal magnetic field of the star due to differential rotation of the star leads to the transformation of the rotational (gravitational) energy to the energy of the supernova explosion. In our simulation the energy of the explosion is 1.12 - 1051 erg. The explosion ejects about 0.11 M⊙.

Stars more massive than ~ 20 − 25 M⊙ form a black hole at the end of their evolution. Stars with non-rotating black holes are likely to collapse “quietly” ejecting a small amount of heavy elements (faint supernovae). In contrast, stars with rotating black holes are likely to give rise to very energetic supernovae (hypernovae). We present distinct nucleosynthesis features of these two types of “black-hole-forming” supernovae. Nucleosynthesis in hypernovae is characterized by larger abundance ratios (Zn, Co, V, Ti)/Fe and smaller (Mn, Cr)/Fe than normal supernovae, which can explain the observed trend of these ratios in extremely metal-poor stars. Nucleosynthesis in faint supernovae is characterized by a large amount of fall-back. We show that the abundance pattern of the recently discovered most Fe-poor star, HE0107-5240, and other extremely metal-poor carbon-rich stars are in good accord with those of black-hole-forming supernovae, but not pair-instability supernovae. This suggests that black-hole-forming supernovae made important contributions to the early Galactic (and cosmic) chemical evolution. Finally we discuss the nature of first (Pop III) Stars.

We investigate explosive nuclear burning in core collapse supernovae by coupling a tracer particle method to one- and two-dimensional Eulerian hydrodynamic calculations. Adopting the most recent experimental and theoretical nuclear data, we compute the nucleosynthetic yields for 15 M⊙ stars with solar metallicity, by post-processing the temperature and density history of advected tracer particles. We compare our results to 1D calculations published in the literature.