ESO sheds light on type II supernova

In summary, ESO recently announced that a high percentage of type O stars have companions, with an equally high percentage being 'vampiric' companions. This discovery may explain the previously puzzling observation of a third of supernovae having little hydrogen in them. However, ESO did not mention that these hydrogen-stripped stars could potentially be candidates for gamma-ray bursts, which is unsettling as it suggests that no galaxy is immune to a rogue GRB. This finding also suggests an alternative evolutionary path for long GRBs, which were previously thought to be primarily associated with Wolf-Rayet stars.
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ESO recently announced its finding that a surprisingly high percentage of type O stars have companions [http://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1230/] . An equally surprising high percentage have 'vampiric' companions that feed off them, which appears to answer at least one hitherto puzzling questions. From the press release -

"... The existence of this large number of vampire stars fits well with a previously unexplained phenomenon. Around a third of stars that explode as supernovae are observed to have surprisingly little hydrogen in them. However, the proportion of hydrogen-poor supernovae closely matches the proportion of vampire stars found by this study. ..."

What ESO neglected to mention is a massive, hydrogen stripped star could be a GRB candidate. This is a bit unsettling as it implies no galaxy is necessarily immune to a rogue GRB.
 
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Interesting. Why is it unsettling for galaxies not to be immune to a rogue GRB?
 
  • #3
Long GRB's are thought most likely to be the product of Wolf-Rayet stars that have shed their hydrogen via radiation prossure. This finding appears to provide an alternative evolutionary path.
 

Related to ESO sheds light on type II supernova

1. What is a type II supernova?

A type II supernova is a powerful explosion that occurs when a massive star runs out of nuclear fuel and collapses under its own gravity. This results in the release of an enormous amount of energy, including the production of heavy elements.

2. How did ESO shed light on type II supernovae?

ESO (European Southern Observatory) used the Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile to study the light emitted by a type II supernova in a nearby galaxy. By analyzing the light's spectrum, scientists were able to determine the chemical composition of the supernova and track its evolution.

3. Why is studying type II supernovae important?

Type II supernovae play a crucial role in the formation of the universe by enriching it with heavy elements. They also serve as important distance indicators for measuring the expansion of the universe and help us understand the life cycle of stars.

4. What did ESO's observations reveal about type II supernovae?

ESO's observations revealed that type II supernovae produce a wide range of elements, including iron, silicon, and calcium. They also found that the material ejected from the supernova explosion was moving at incredibly high speeds, up to 10% of the speed of light.

5. How can ESO's findings on type II supernovae impact future research?

ESO's findings on type II supernovae can provide valuable insights into the processes involved in these powerful explosions. This can help scientists improve their understanding of the universe's evolution and the role of supernovae in shaping it. It can also aid in the development of better models and theories for predicting and interpreting supernova events.

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