Its name, 2023ufx, in no way illustrates its rare and exceptional character. This is a supernova observed by a team of researchers led by Michael Tucker of the Center for Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics at Ohio State University.
2023ufx originated from the collapse of the core of a red supergiant star located on the outskirts of a nearby dwarf galaxy. Its particularity? It has a very low metallicity, the lowest ever observed. Ditto for its host galaxy.
An environment similar to that of the early Universe
“ Because the metals produced in supernovae influence their properties, including how stars evolve and die, knowing more about their formation can tell astronomers a lot about the state of the early universe. , especially since there were practically no metals at the time of its birth “, explains Michael Tucker.
2023ufx offers a unique opportunity to study massive stars and supernovae in a low metallicity environment, similar to that of the early Universe, the researchers point out.
“ If you want to predict how the Milky Way formed, you need to have a good idea of how the first stars that exploded seeded the next generation », continues Michael Tucker. “ Understanding this gives scientists a great example of how these early objects affected their environment. »
A very different period of light
The 2023ufx study, published in The Astrophysical Journalreveals other very specific characteristics. Thus, the supernova had a period of brightness that remained stable for about 20 days before fading. A duration much shorter than that of metal-rich supernovas whose luminosity period generally lasts around a hundred days.
The study also showed that a large amount of fast-moving material was ejected during the explosion, suggesting that the supernova must have been rotating very quickly when it exploded.
Crucial information on the evolution of massive stars and supernovae
“ This result implies that rapidly rotating metal-poor stars must have been relatively common in the early universe », Estimates Michael Tucker. His team's theory is that the supernova likely had weak stellar winds that caused it to grow and release so much energy.
The study of 2023ufx provides crucial information on the evolution of massive stars and supernovas in low metallicity environments. Continuing observations and modeling of 2023ufx will help refine the understanding of the processes at work and their impact on the evolution of the Universe.
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