Abstract

Contributed Talk - Splinter Relativistic   (MW-2050)

Unveiling Magnetar-Powered Supernovae: From Superluminous to Broad-Line Type Ic

Ke-Jung Chen, Stan Woosley
ASIAA/HITS

Some of the most powerful explosions in the universe—superluminous and broad-line Type Ic supernovae—may share a common engine: newly born magnetars. These rapidly spinning, strongly magnetized neutron stars can release enormous energy into their surrounding ejecta, shaping both the brightness and the dynamics of the explosion. In this talk, I will present two-dimensional simulations that follow how magnetar energy drives these cosmic fireworks. We will see how variations in magnetar properties can produce very different outcomes—from dazzling superluminous events to energetic, broad-line explosions—and how the resulting asymmetries and mixing help explain key observational features. Together, these results suggest that magnetars may unify several seemingly distinct classes of stellar explosions.