The Supernovae that Accompany Gamma-ray bursts

Energetic supernovae have been seen to occur at the same spatial locations as long-duration gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). These so-called gamma-ray burst supernovae (GRB-SNe) are bright and energetic, and their spectra indicate that material within in the supernova outflow moves at tens of thousands of kilometres per second. The first GRB-SN was observed in 1998, with only 50 in the intervening years. Over the past two decades, the physical processes giving rise to, and powering the luminosity of, GRB-SNe has been slowly ascertained, though many outstanding questions still exist, including the puzzling existence of superluminous GRB-SNe, the precise nature of the progenitor systems, and how to properly exploit their luminosity-decline relationship in GRB-SN cosmology. In this pseudo-review talk I will present the latest paradigms that describe all of the physical processes that occur during a GRB-SN event, and use these to infer properties of their pre-explosion progenitor star and constrain the nature of the central engine that powers the GRB and the supernova. The second part of my talk will be a brief presentation of the recently detected kilonova, KN 2017A, which was associated with short-duration GRB 170817A, and was initially detected by its gravitational wave emission (GW 170817). I will focus on its observational properties, including the first optical and NIR spectra ever obtained of a KN as well as its superbly sampled optical and NIR light curves, and briefly discuss the physical processes occuring during the KN, as well as its chemical properties.

Fecha: 
26/10/2017 - 12:30
Conferenciante: 
Dr. Zach Cano
Filiación: 
IAA-CSIC, Spain


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