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Luc Dessart

Publications and source records attributed to Luc Dessart.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Two-dimensional radiation-hydrodynamics simulations of super-luminous interacting supernovae of type IIn

Some interacting supernovae (SNe) of type IIn show a sizeable continuum polarisation suggestive of a large scale asymmetry in the circumstellar medium (CSM) and/or the SN ejecta. Here, we extend the recent work of Dessart et al. on super-luminous SNe IIn and perform axially-symmetric (i.e., 2D) multi-group radiation hydrodynamics simulations to explore the impact of an imposed large scale density asymmetry. When the CSM is asymmetric, the latitudinal variation of the radial optical depth $τ$ introduces a strong flux redistribution from the higher-density CSM regions, where the shock luminosity is larger, towards the lower-density CSM regions where photons escape more freely --- this redistribution ceases when $τ<$1. Along directions where the CSM density is larger, the shock deceleration is stronger and its progression slower, producing a non-spherical cold-dense shell (CDS). For an oblate CSM density distribution, the photosphere (CDS) has an oblate (prolate) morphology when $τ>$1. When the CSM is symmetric and the ejecta asymmetric, the flux redistribution within the CSM now tends to damp the latitudinal variation of the luminosity at the shock. It then requires a larger ejecta asymmetry to produce a sizeable latitudinal variation in the emergent flux. When the interaction is between a SN ejecta and a relic disk, the luminosity boost at early times scales with the disk opening angle -- forming a super-luminous SN IIn this way requires an unrealistically thick disk. In contrast, interaction with a disk of modest thickness/mass can yield a power that rivals radioactive decay of a standard SN II at nebular times.

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Models of interacting supernovae and their spectral diversity

Using radiation-hydrodynamics and radiative-transfer simulations, we explore the origin of the spectral diversity of interacting supernovae (SNe) of type IIn. We revisit SN1994W and investigate the dynamical configurations that can give rise to spectra with narrow lines at all times. We find that a standard ~10Msun 10^51erg SN ejecta ramming into a 0.4Msun dense CSM is inadequate for SN1994W, as it leads to the appearance of broad lines at late times. This structure, however, generates spectra that exhibit the key morphological changes seen in SN1998S. For SN1994W, we consider a completely different configuration, which involves the interaction at a large radius of a low mass inner shell with a high mass outer shell. Such a structure may arise in an 8-12Msun star from a nuclear flash (e.g., of Ne) followed within a few years by core collapse. Our simulations show that the large mass of the outer shell leads to the complete braking of the inner shell material, the formation of a slow dense shell, and the powering of a luminous SN IIn, even for a low inner shell energy. Early on, our model line profiles are typical of SNe IIn, exhibiting narrow cores and broad electron-scattering wings. As observed in SN1994W, they also remain narrow at late times. Our SN1994W model invokes two low energy ejections, both atypical of observed massive stars, and illustrates the diversity of configurations leading to SNe IIn. These results also highlight the importance of spectra to constrain the dynamical properties and understand the origin of SNe IIn.

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A correlation between SN II metal line strength and host HII region oxygen abundance

Dessart et al., demonstrated that type II supernova (SN II) model spectra present increasing metal line strength with increasing progenitor metallicity. To confront these models with observations, we obtained a large sample of SN II host HII region emission line spectroscopy. We show that inferred SN II host HII region metallicities have a statistically significant correlation with the strength of SN II metal lines, specifically FeII 5018A.

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Radiative-transfer models for supernovae IIb/Ib/Ic from binary-star progenitors

We present 1-D non-Local-Thermodynamic-Equilibrium time-dependent radiative-transfer simulations for supernovae (SNe) of type IIb, Ib, and Ic that result from the terminal explosion of the mass donor in a close-binary system. Here, we select three ejecta with a total kinetic energy of ~1.2e51erg, but characterised by different ejecta masses (2-5Msun), composition, and chemical mixing. The type IIb/Ib models correspond to the progenitors that have retained their He-rich shell at the time of explosion. The type Ic model arises from a progenitor that has lost its helium shell, but retains 0.32Msun of helium in a CO-rich core of 5.11Msun. We discuss their photometric and spectroscopic properties during the first 2-3 months after explosion, and connect these to their progenitor and ejecta properties including chemical stratification. For these three models, Arnett's rule overestimates the 56Ni mass by ~50% while the procedure of Katz et al., based on an energy argument, yields a more reliable estimate. The presence of strong CI lines around 9000A prior to maximum is an indicator that the pre-SN star was under-abundant in helium. As noted by others, the 1.08micron feature is a complex blend of CI, MgII, and HeI lines, which makes the identification of He uncertain in SNe Ibc unless other HeI lines can be identified. Our models show little scatter in (V-R) colour 10d after R-band maximum. We also address a number of radiative transfer properties of SNe Ibc, including the notion of a photosphere, the inference of a representative ejecta expansion rate, spectrum formation, blackbody fits and "correction factors".

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Numerical simulations of super-luminous supernovae of type IIn

We present numerical simulations that include 1-D Eulerian multi-group radiation-hydrodynamics, 1-D non-LTE radiative transfer, and 2-D polarised radiative transfer for super-luminous interacting supernovae (SNe). Our reference model is a ~10Msun inner shell with 10^51erg ramming into a ~3Msun cold outer shell (the circumstellar-medium, or CSM) that extends from 10^15cm to 2x10^16cm and moves at 100km/s. We discuss the light curve evolution, which cannot be captured adequately with a grey approach. In these interactions, the shock-crossing time through the optically-thick CSM is much longer than the photon diffusion time. Radiation is thus continuously leaking from the shock through the CSM, in disagreement with the shell-shocked model that is often invoked. Our spectra redden with time, with a peak distribution in the near-UV during the first month gradually shifting to the optical range over the following year. Initially Balmer lines exhibit a narrow line core and the broad line wings that are characteristic of electron scattering in the SNe IIn atmospheres (CSM). At later times they also exhibit a broad blue shifted component which arises from the cold dense shell. Our model results are broadly consistent with the bolometric light curve and spectral evolution observed for SN2010jl. Invoking a prolate pole-to-equator density ratio in the CSM, we can also reproduce the ~2% continuum polarisation, and line depolarisation, observed in SN2010jl. By varying the inner shell kinetic energy and the mass and extent of the outer shell, a large range of peak luminosities and durations, broadly compatible with super-luminous SNe IIn like 2010jl or 2006gy, can be produced.

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A one-dimensional Chandrasekhar-mass delayed-detonation model for the broad-lined Type Ia supernova 2002bo

We present 1D non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (non-LTE) time-dependent radiative-transfer simulations of a Chandrasekhar-mass delayed-detonation model which synthesizes 0.51 Msun of 56Ni, and confront our results to the Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) 2002bo over the first 100 days of its evolution. Assuming only homologous expansion, this same model reproduces the bolometric and multi-band light curves, the secondary near-infrared (NIR) maxima, and the optical and NIR spectra. The chemical stratification of our model qualitatively agrees with previous inferences by Stehle et al., but reveals significant quantitative differences for both iron-group and intermediate-mass elements. We show that +/-0.1 Msun (i.e., +/-20 per cent) variations in 56Ni mass have a modest impact on the bolometric and colour evolution of our model. One notable exception is the U-band, where a larger abundance of iron-group elements results in less opaque ejecta through ionization effects, our model with more 56Ni displaying a higher near-UV flux level. In the NIR range, such variations in 56Ni mass affect the timing of the secondary maxima but not their magnitude, in agreement with observational results. Moreover, the variation in the I, J, and K_s magnitudes is less than 0.1 mag within ~10 days from bolometric maximum, confirming the potential of NIR photometry of SNe Ia for cosmology. Overall, the delayed-detonation mechanism in single Chandrasekhar-mass white dwarf progenitors seems well suited for SN 2002bo and similar SNe Ia displaying a broad Si II 6355 A line. Whatever multidimensional processes are at play during the explosion leading to these events, they must conspire to produce an ejecta comparable to our spherically-symmetric model.

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One-dimensional non-LTE time-dependent radiative transfer of an He-detonation model and the connection to faint and fast-decaying supernovae

We present non-LTE time-dependent radiative transfer simulations for ejecta produced by the detonation of an helium shell at the surface of a low-mass carbon/oxygen white dwarf (WD). This mechanism is one possible origin for supernovae (SNe) with faint and fast-decaying light curves, such as .Ia SNe and Ca-rich transients. Our initial ejecta conditions at 1d are given by the 0.18B explosion model COp45HEp2 of Waldman et al.. The 0.2Msun ejecta initially contains 0.11Msun of He, 0.03Msun of Ca, and 0.03Msun of Ti. We obtain a ~5d rise to a bolometric maximum of 3.59x10^41 erg/s, primarily powered by 48V decay. Multi-band light curves show distinct morphologies, with a rise to maximum magnitude (-14.3 to -16.7mag) that varies between 3 to 9d from the U to the K bands. Near-IR light curves show no secondary maximum. Because of the presence of both HeI and SiII lines at early times we obtain a hybrid Type Ia/Ib classification. During the photospheric phase line blanketing is caused primarily by TiII. At nebular times, the spectra show strong CaII lines in the optical (but no [OI] 6300--6364A emission), and TiII in the near-IR. Overall, these results match qualitatively the very disparate properties of .Ia SNe and Ca-rich transients. Although the strong TiII blanketing and red colors that we predict are rarely observed, they are seen, for example, in OGLE-2013- SN-079. Furthermore, we obtain a faster light-curve evolution than, for example, PTF10iuv, indicating an ejecta mass >0.2Msun. An alternate scenario may be the merger of two WDs, one or both composed of He.

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Critical ingredients of supernova Ia radiative-transfer modeling

We explore the physics of SN Ia light curves and spectra using the 1-D non-LTE time-dependent radiative-transfer code CMFGEN. Rather than adjusting ejecta properties to match observations, we select as input one "standard" 1-D Chandrasekhar-mass delayed-detonation hydrodynamical model, and then explore the sensitivity of radiation and gas properties on radiative-transfer modeling assumptions. The correct computation of SN Ia radiation is not exclusively a solution to an "opacity problem", characterized by the treatment of a large number of lines. It is also key to treat important atomic processes consistently. Besides handling line blanketing in non-LTE, we show that including forbidden line transitions of metals is increasingly important for the temperature and ionization of the gas beyond maximum light. Non-thermal ionization and excitation are also critical since they affect the color evolution and the Delta-M15 of our model. While impacting little the bolometric luminosity, a more complete treatment of decay routes leads to enhanced line blanketing, e.g., associated with 48Ti in the U and B bands. Overall, we find that SN Ia radiation properties are influenced in a complicated way by the atomic data we employ, so that obtaining converged results is a challenge. We nonetheless obtain a good match to the golden standard type Ia SN 2005cf in the optical and near-IR, from 5 to 60d after explosion, suggesting that assuming spherical symmetry is not detrimental to SN Ia radiative-transfer modeling at these times. Multi-D effects no doubt matter, but they are perhaps less important than accurately treating non-LTE processes [abridged].

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Constraints on the explosion mechanism and progenitors of type Ia supernovae

Observations of SN 2011fe at early times reveal an evolution analogous to a fireball model of constant color. In contrast, our unmixed delayed detonations of Chandrasekhar-mass white dwarfs (DDC series) exhibit a faster brightening concomitant with a shift in color to the blue. In this paper, we study the origin of these discrepancies. We find that strong chemical mixing largely resolves the photometric mismatch at early times, but it leads to an enhanced line broadening that contrasts, for example, with the markedly narrow SiII6355A line of SN 2011fe. We also explore an alternative configuration with pulsational-delayed detonations (PDDEL model series). Because of the pulsation, PDDEL models retain more unburnt carbon, have little mass at high velocity, and have a much hotter outer ejecta after the explosion. The pulsation does not influence the inner ejecta, so PDDEL and DDC models exhibit similar radiative properties beyond maximum. However, at early times, PDDEL models show bluer optical colors and a higher luminosity, even for weak mixing. Their early-time radiation is derived primarily from the initial shock-deposited energy in the outer ejecta rather than radioactive decay heating. Furthermore, PDDEL models show short-lived CII lines, reminiscent of SN 2013dy. They typically exhibit lines that are weaker, narrower, and of near-constant width, reminiscent of SN 2011fe. In addition to multi-dimensional effects, varying configurations for such ``pulsations" offer a source of spectral diversity amongst SNe Ia. PDDEL and DDC models also provide one explanation for low- and high-velocity gradient SNe Ia.

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[CoIII] versus NaID in type Ia supernova spectra

The high metal content and fast expansion of supernova (SN) Ia ejecta lead to considerable line overlap in their optical spectra. Uncertainties in composition and ionization further complicate the process of line identification. In this paper, we focus on the 5900A emission feature seen in SN Ia spectra after bolometric maximum, a line which in the last two decades has been associated with [CoIII]5888A or NaID. Using non-LTE time-dependent radiative-transfer calculations based on Chandrasekhar-mass delayed-detonation models, we find that NaID line emission is extremely weak at all post-maximum epochs. Instead, we predict the presence of [CoIII]5888A after maximum in all our SN Ia models, which cover a range from 0.12 to 0.87Msun of 56Ni. We also find that the [CoIII]5888A forbidden line is present within days of bolometric maximum, and strengthens steadily for weeks thereafter. Both predictions are confirmed by observations. Rather than trivial taxonomy, these findings confirm that it is necessary to include forbidden-line transitions in radiative-transfer simulations of SNe Ia, both to obtain the correct ejecta cooling rate and to match observed optical spectra.

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Type II-Plateau supernova radiation: dependencies on progenitor and explosion properties

We explore the properties of Type II-Plateau (II-P) supernovae (SNe) together with their red-supergiant (RSG) star progenitors. Using MESA STAR, we modulate the parameters (e.g., mixing length, overshoot, rotation, metallicity) that control the evolution of a 15Msun main-sequence star to produce a variety of physical pre-SN models and SN II-P ejecta. We extend previous modeling of SN II-P radiation to include photospheric and nebular phases, as well as multi-band light curves and spectra. Our treatment does not assume local thermodynamic equilibrium, is time dependent, treats explicitly the effects of line blanketing, and incorporates non-thermal processes. We find that the color properties of SNe II-P require large model atoms for FeI and FeII, much larger than adopted in Dessart & Hillier (2011). The color properties also imply RSG progenitors of limited extent (~500Rsun) --- larger progenitor stars produce a SN II-P radiation that remains too blue for too long. This finding calls for a reduction of RSG radii, perhaps through a strengthening of convective energy transport in RSG envelopes. Increased overshoot and rotation reduce the ratio of ejecta to helium-core mass, similarly to an increase in main-sequence mass, and thus complicate the inference ofprogenitor masses. In contrast to the great sensitivity on progenitor radius, SN II-P color evolution appears insensitive to variations in explosion energy. Finally, we document the numerous SN II-P signatures that vary with progenitor metallicity, revealing their potential for metallicity determinations in the nearby and distant Universe.

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The Arduous Journey to Black-Hole Formation in Potential Gamma-Ray Burst Progenitors

We present a quantitative study on the properties at death of fast-rotating massive stars evolved at low-metallicity, objects that are proposed as likely progenitors of long-duration gamma-ray bursts (LGRBs). We perform 1D+rotation stellar-collapse simulations on the progenitor models of Woosley & Heger (2006) and critically assess their potential for the formation of a black hole and a Keplerian disk (namely a collapsar) or a proto-magnetar. We note that theoretical uncertainties in the treatment of magnetic fields and the approximate handling of rotation compromises the accuracy of stellar-evolution models. We find that only the fastest rotating progenitors achieve sufficient compactness for black-hole formation while the bulk of models possess a core density structure typical of garden-variety core-collapse supernova (SN) progenitors evolved without rotation and at solar metallicity. Of the models that do have sufficient compactness for black-hole formation, most of them also retain a large amount of angular momentum in the core, making them prone to a magneto-rotational explosion, therefore preferentially leaving behind a proto-magnetar. A large progenitor angular-momentum budget is often the sole criterion invoked in the community today to assess the suitability for producing a collapsar. This simplification ignores equally important considerations such as the core compactness, which conditions black-hole formation, the core angular momentum, which may foster a magneto-rotational explosion preventing black-hole formation, or the metallicity and the residual envelope mass which must be compatible with inferences from observed LGRB/SNe. Our study suggests that black-hole formation is non trivial, that there is room for accommodating both collapsars and proto-magnetars as LGRB progenitors, although proto-magnetars seem much more easily produced by current stellar-evolutionary models.

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One-dimensional delayed-detonation models of Type Ia supernovae: Confrontation to observations at bolometric maximum

The delayed-detonation explosion mechanism applied to a Chandrasekhar-mass white dwarf offers a very attractive model to explain the inferred characteristics of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia). The resulting ejecta are chemically stratified, have the same mass and roughly the same asymptotic kinetic energy, but exhibit a range in 56Ni mass. We investigate the contemporaneous photometric and spectroscopic properties of a sequence of delayed-detonation models, characterized by 56Ni masses between 0.18 and 0.81 Msun. Starting at 1d after explosion, we perform the full non-LTE, time-dependent radiative transfer with the code CMFGEN, with an accurate treatment of line blanketing, and compare our results to SNe Ia at bolometric maximum. Despite the 1D treatment, our approach delivers an excellent agreement to observations. We recover the range of SN Ia luminosities, colours, and spectral characteristics from the near-UV to 1 micron, for standard as well as low-luminosity 91bg-like SNe Ia. Our models predict an increase in rise time to peak with increasing 56Ni mass, from ~15 to ~21d, yield peak bolometric luminosities that match Arnett's rule to within 10%, and reproduce the much smaller scatter in near-IR magnitudes compared to the optical. We reproduce the morphology of individual spectral features, the stiff dependence of the R(Si) spectroscopic ratio on 56Ni mass, and the onset of blanketing from TiII/ScII in low-luminosity SNe Ia with a 56Ni mass <0.3 Msun. We find that ionization effects, which often dominate over abundance variations, can produce high-velocity features in CaII lines, even in 1D. Distinguishing between different SN Ia explosion mechanisms is a considerable challenge but the results presented here provide additional support to the viability of the delayed-detonation model.

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Radiative Properties of Pair-instability Supernova Explosions

We present non-LTE time-dependent radiative-transfer simulations of pair-instability supernovae (PISNe) stemming from red-supergiant (RSG), blue-supergiant (BSG) and Wolf-Rayet (WR) star rotation-free progenitors born in the mass range 160-230Msun, at 10^-4 Zsun. Although subject to uncertainties in convection and stellar mass-loss rates, our initial conditions come from physically-consistent models that treat evolution from the main-sequence, the onset of the pair-production instability, and the explosion phase. With our set of input models characterized by large 56Ni and ejecta masses, and large kinetic energies, we recover qualitatively the Type II-Plateau, II-peculiar, and Ib/c light-curve morphologies, although they have larger peak bolometric luminosities (~10^9 to 10^10 Lsun) and a longer duration (~200d). We discuss the spectral properties for each model during the photospheric and nebular phases, including Balmer lines in II-P and II-pec at early times, the dominance of lines from intermediate-mass-elements (IMEs) near the bolometric maximum, and the strengthening of metal line blanketing thereafter. Having similar He-core properties, all models exhibit similar post-peak spectra that are strongly blanketed by FeII and FeI lines, characterized by red colors, and that arise from photospheres/ejecta with a temperature of <4000K. Combined with the modest line widths after bolometric peak, these properties contrast with those of known super-luminous SNe suggesting that PISNe are yet to be discovered. Being reddish, PISNe will be difficult to observe at high redshift except when they stem from RSG explosions, in which case they could be used as metallicity probes and distance indicators.

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Super-luminous supernovae: 56Ni power versus magnetar radiation

Much uncertainty surrounds the origin of super-luminous supernovae (SNe). Motivated by the discovery of the Type Ic SN2007bi, we study its proposed association with a pair-instability SN (PISN). We compute stellar-evolution models for primordial ~200Msun stars, simulating the implosion/explosion due to the pair-production instability, and use them as inputs for detailed non-LTE time-dependent radiative-transfer simulations that include non-local energy deposition and non-thermal processes. We retrieve the basic morphology of PISN light curves from red-supergiant, blue-supergiant, and Wolf-Rayet (WR) star progenitors. Although we confirm that a progenitor 100Msun helium core (PISN model He100) fits well the SN2007bi light curve, the low ratios of its kinetic energy and 56Ni mass to the ejecta mass, similar to standard core-collapse SNe, conspire to produce cool photospheres, red spectra subject to strong line blanketing, and narrow line profiles, all conflicting with SN2007bi observations. He-core models of increasing 56Ni-to-ejecta mass ratio have bluer spectra, but still too red to match SN2007bi, even for model He125 -- the effect of 56Ni heating is offset by the associated increase in blanketing. In contrast, the delayed injection of energy by a magnetar represents a more attractive alternative to reproduce the blue, weakly-blanketed, and broad-lined spectra of super-luminous SNe. The extra heat source is free of blanketing and is not explicitly tied to the ejecta. Experimenting with a ~9Msun WR-star progenitor, initially exploded to yield a ~1.6B SN Ib/c ejecta but later influenced by tunable magnetar-like radiation, we produce a diversity of blue spectral morphologies reminiscent of SN2007bi, the peculiar Type Ib SN2005bf, and super-luminous SN2005ap-like events.

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Non-thermal excitation and ionization in supernovae

We incorporate non-thermal excitation and ionization processes arising from non-thermal electrons that result from γ-ray energy deposition, into our radiative transfer code CMFGEN. The non-thermal electron distribution is obtained by solving the Spencer-Fano equation using the procedure of Kozma & Fransson (1992). We applied the non-thermal calculations to the blue supergiant explosion model whose early evolution was studied in Dessart & Hillier (2010). Non-thermal processes generally increase excitation and ionization and decrease the temperature of the ejecta. We confirm that non-thermal processes are crucial for modeling the nebular spectra. Both optical HI and HeI lines are significantly strengthened. While optical HeI lines are not easily discerned in observational spectra due to severe blending with other lines, HeI 2.058 μm provides an excellent opportunity to infer the influence of non-thermal processes. We also discuss the processes controlling the formation of the HeI lines during the nebular epoch. Most lines of other species are only slightly affected. We also show that the inclusion of FeI has substantial line-blanketing effects on the optical spectra. Our model spectra and synthetic light curves are compared to the observations of SN 1987A. The spectral evolution shows broad agreement with the observations, especially Hα. The uncertainties of the non-thermal solver are studied, and are expected to be small. With this new addition of non-thermal effects in CMFGEN, we now treat all known important processes controlling the radiative transfer of a supernova ejecta, whatever the type and the epoch.

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On the nature of supernovae Ib and Ic

Using non-LTE time-dependent radiative-transfer calculations, we study the impact of mixing and non-thermal processes associated with radioactive decay on SN IIb/Ib/Ic light curves (LCs) and spectra. Starting with short-period binary models of \leq5Msun He-rich stars (18-25Msun on the main-sequence), we produce 1.2B ejecta which we artificially mix to alter the chemical stratification. While the total 56Ni mass influences the LC peak, the spatial distribution of 56Ni, controlled by mixing processes, impacts both the multi-band LCs and spectra. With enhanced mixing, our synthetic LCs start their post-breakout re-brightening phase earlier, follow a more gradual rise to peak, appear redder, and fade faster after peak due to enhanced gamma-ray escape. Non-thermal electrons, crucial for the production of HeI lines, deposit a dominant fraction of their energy as heat. Because energy deposition is generally local well after the LC peak, the broad HeI lines characteristic of maximum-light SN IIb/Ib spectra require mixing that places 56Ni and helium nuclei to within a gamma-ray mean-free-path. This requirement indicates that SNe IIb and Ib most likely arise from the explosion of stripped-envelope massive stars (main-sequence masses \leq25Msun) that have evolved through mass-transfer in a binary system, rather than from more massive single WR stars. In contrast, the lack of HeI lines in SNe Ic may result from a variety of causes: A genuine helium deficiency; strongly-asymmetric mixing; weak mixing; or a more massive, perhaps single, progenitor characterized by a larger oxygen-rich core. Our models, subject to different mixing magnitudes, can produce a variety of SN types, including IIb, IIc, Ib, and Ic. As it is poorly constrained by explosion models, mixing challenges our ability to infer the progenitor and explosion properties of SNe IIb/Ib/Ic.

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Time Dependent Radiative Transfer Calculations for Supernovae

In previous papers we discussed results from fully time-dependent radiative transfer models for core-collapse supernova (SN) ejecta, including the Type II-peculiar SN 1987A, the more "generic" SN II-Plateau, and more recently Type IIb/Ib/Ic SNe. Here we describe the modifications to our radiative modeling code, CMFGEN, which allowed those studies to be undertaken. The changes allow for time-dependent radiative transfer of SN ejecta in homologous expansion. In the modeling we treat the entire SN ejecta, from the innermost layer that does not fall back on the compact remnant out to the progenitor surface layers. From our non-LTE time-dependent line-blanketed synthetic spectra, we compute the bolometric and multi-band light curves: light curves and spectra are thus calculated simultaneously using the same physical processes and numerics. These upgrades, in conjunction with our previous modifications which allow the solution of the time dependent rate equations, will improve the modeling of SN spectra and light curves, and hence facilitate new insights into SN ejecta properties, the SN progenitors and the explosion mechanism(s). CMFGEN can now be applied to the modeling of all SN types

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