An international research team led by the Yunnan Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has made significant advancements in the observational study of the metamorphic supernova SN 2014C. Their work provides crucial insights into the explosion mechanisms of this rare type of supernova and the final evolutionary stages of its progenitor star. This study is published in The Astrophysical Journal.
SN 2014C is a well-known supernova that has undergone a remarkable transformation in its spectral classification, evolving from an initially hydrogen-poor Type Ib to a hydrogen-rich Type IIn. This transformation suggests that the progenitor star of SN 2014C had nearly completely shed its outer hydrogen envelope before the explosion, leaving behind a dense circumstellar material (CSM) in its vicinity. This rare and complex phenomenon has intrigued astronomers for the past decade.
Using observations from the Lijiang 2.4-meter telescope, the researchers released the most comprehensive early data on SN 2014C. These data provided earlier evidence of the interaction between the supernova and the CSM, filling the gap in information about the inner layers of the CSM.
By constructing a model that incorporates radioactive decay and delayed interaction, the researchers successfully explained the complex and variable light curve behavior of SN 2014C.
Their observations revealed the detailed physical processes during the initial stages of SN 2014C’s explosion and provided key clues to its subsequent spectral transformation. By integrating early photometric data, late-time spectral data, and radio and infrared observations spanning a decade, the research team discovered that the CSM around SN 2014C is not uniformly distributed; instead, it exhibits a U-shaped structure. This intricate circumstellar environment significantly influences the supernova’s light curve and spectral evolution.
More information:
Qian Zhai et al, SN 2014C: A Metamorphic Supernova Exploded in the Intricate and Hydrogen-rich Surroundings, The Astrophysical Journal (2025). DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ad9c76
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Chinese Academy of Sciences
Citation:
A rare type of supernova: Researchers reveal its explosion mechanisms (2025, February 10)
