The Landscape of Thermal Transients from Supernova Interacting with a Circumstellar Medium

• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2304.03360
• Publication Date: 2023-01-01
• Authors: David Khatami; Daniel Kasen
• Keywords: Breakout

The interaction of supernova ejecta with a surrounding circumstellar medium (CSM) generates strong shock which can convert the kinetic energy into observable radiation. Given diversity potential CSM structures (arising from diverse mass loss processes such as late-stage stellar outbursts, binary interaction, and winds), resulting transients display wide range light curve morphologies. We provide framework for classifying arising spherical shell. curves are decomposed five consecutive phases, starting onset extending through breakout subsequent cooling. relative prominence each phase in is determined by two dimensionless quantities representing CSM-to-ejecta ratio $\eta$, parameter $\xi$. These parameters define four morphology classes, where class characterized location degree deceleration sweeps up CSM. compile analytic scaling relations connecting luminosity duration to physical parameters. then run grid radiation hydrodynamics simulations numerically explore landscape curves, calibrate confirm scalings. connect our theoretical several case studies observed transients, highlighting relevance explaining slow-rising superluminous supernovae, fast blue optical double-peaked curves.