Properties of Type-Ia Supernova Light Curves

Abstract

I show that the characteristic diffusion timescale and the gamma-ray escape timescale, of SN Ia supernova ejecta, are related with each other through the time when the bolometric luminosity, $L_{\rm bol}$, intersects with instantaneous radioactive decay luminosity, $L_γ$, for the second time after the light-curve peak. Analytical arguments, numerical radiation-transport calculations, and observational tests show that $L_{\rm bol}$ generally intersects $L_γ$ at roughly $1.7$ times the characteristic diffusion timescale of the ejecta. This relation implies that the gamma-ray escape timescale is typically 2.7 times the diffusion timescale, and also implies that the bolometric luminosity 15 days after the peak, $L_{\rm bol}(t_{15})$, must be close to the instantaneous decay luminosity at that time, $L_γ(t_{15})$. With the employed calculations and observations, the accuracy of $L_{\rm bol}=L_γ$ at $t=t_{15}$ is found to be comparable to the simple version of "Arnett's rule" ($L_{\rm bol}=L_γ$ at $t=t_{\rm peak}$). This relation aids the interpretation of SN Ia supernova light curves and may also be applicable to general hydrogen-free explosion scenarios powered by other central engines.