Radiation hydrodynamics of SN 1987A: I. Global analysis of the light curve for the first 4 months

Abstract

The optical/UV light curves of SN 1987A are analyzed with the multi-energy group radiation hydrodynamics code STELLA. The calculated monochromatic and bolometric light curves are compared with observations shortly after shock breakout, during the early plateau, through the broad second maximum, and during the earliest phase of the radioactive tail. We have concentrated on a progenitor model calculated by Nomoto & Hashimoto and Saio, Nomoto, & Kato, which assumes that 14 solar masses of the stellar mass is ejected. Using this model, we have updated constraints on the explosion energy and the extent of mixing in the ejecta. In particular, we determine the most likely range of E/M (explosion energy over ejecta mass) and R_0 (radius of the progenitor). In general, our best models have energies in the range E = (1.1 +/- 0.3) x 10^{51} ergs, and the agreement is better than in earlier, flux-limited diffusion calculations for the same explosion energy. Our modeled B and V fluxes compare well with observations, while the flux in U undershoots after about 10 days by a factor of a few, presumably due to NLTE and line transfer effects. We also compare our results with IUE observations, and a very good quantitative agreement is found for the first days, and for one IUE band (2500-3000 A) as long as for 3 months. We point out that the V flux estimated by McNaught & Zoltowski should probably be revised to a lower value.