Astronomers have observed what they believe is a new type of supernova, dubbed type Ien, which has provided an unparalleled glimpse into the internal structure of massive stars just before they explode. This discovery challenges existing stellar evolution theories and reveals that stars can shed layers, including heavy elements like silicon and sulfur, before exploding.
Massive stars are thought to be like celestial onions, with outer layers composed of lighter elements such as hydrogen and helium. However, some stars may have a more complex internal structure, releasing hidden layers just before explosion. The study’s authors observed a thick shell of silicon and sulfur being expelled from the star just before its death, which is unusual and has never been seen before.
The team estimated that the star would have needed to release a mass of three times the sun over the course of its lifetime to leave behind this shell, suggesting that some stars experience extreme losses of mass later in their lifetimes. The discovery provides direct evidence of the internal structure of massive stars and challenges conventional ways of understanding stellar evolution.
The team discovered the supernova using the Zwicky Transient Facility at the Palomar Observatory in Southern California. They noticed an object that rapidly increased in brightness 2.2 billion light-years from Earth, which was later confirmed to be a type Ien supernova. The study has implications for our understanding of stellar evolution and suggests that there may be more exotic pathways for massive stars to end their lives than previously thought.
The researchers are still unsure of what triggered the star’s release of the silicon and sulfur shell, but they believe it may have torn itself apart or interacted with a potential companion star. Whatever the cause, the discovery has designated this new type of supernova as entirely new and provides a glimpse into the complex life cycles of massive stars.
Source: https://www.ksl.com/article/51364491/new-type-of-supernova-looks-like-nothing-anyone-has-ever-seen-before-astronomer-says