Optical Light Curves
of Novae and Supernovae
Ashley Pagnotta
We’ll start with novae, which are primarily classified
by the speed of their decline and light curve shape.
S = Smooth light curve, 38% of novae
Prototype = CP Lac
Adapted from Strope, Schaefer, & Henden (2010)
S = Smooth light curve, 38% of novae
Prototype = CP Lac
t2
Adapted from Strope, Schaefer, & Henden (2010)
S = Smooth light curve, 38% of novae
Prototype = CP Lac
t2
t3
Adapted from Strope, Schaefer, & Henden (2010)
P = light curve with a Plateau, 21% of novae
Prototype = V4633 Sgr
Adapted from Strope, Schaefer, & Henden (2010)
P = light curve with a Plateau, 21% of novae
Prototype = V4633 Sgr
Adapted from Strope, Schaefer, & Henden (2010)
D = light curve with a Dust dip, 18% of novae
Prototype = DQ Her
Adapted from Strope, Schaefer, & Henden (2010)
J = light curves that show Jitters, 16% of novae
Prototype = DK Lac
Adapted from Strope, Schaefer, & Henden (2010)
O = quasi-sinusoidal Oscillations, 4% of novae
Prototype = V603 Aql
Adapted from Strope, Schaefer, & Henden (2010)
O = quasi-sinusoidal Oscillations, 4% of novae
Prototype = V603 Aql
Adapted from Strope, Schaefer, & Henden (2010)
O = quasi-sinusoidal Oscillations, 4% of novae
Prototype = V603 Aql
Adapted from Strope, Schaefer, & Henden (2010)
F = Flat-topped light curves, 2% of novae
Prototype = DO Aql
Adapted from Strope, Schaefer, & Henden (2010)
F = Flat-topped light curves, 2% of novae
Prototype = DO Aql
Adapted from Strope, Schaefer, & Henden (2010)
C = Cusp-shaped secondary maximum, 1% of novae
Prototype = V2362 Cyg
Adapted from Strope, Schaefer, & Henden (2010)
Now, time for some audience participation!
How would you classify these
(totally random) nova light curves?
S
P
D
J
O
F
C
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
Smooth
Plateau
Dust Dip
Jitters
Oscillations
Flat Top
Cusp
How would you classify these
(totally random) nova light curves?
S
P
D
J
O
F
C
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
AAVSO
Smooth
Plateau
Dust Dip
Jitters
Oscillations
Flat Top
Cusp
How would you classify these
(totally random) nova light curves?
S
P
D
J
O
F
C
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
AAVSO
Smooth
Plateau
Dust Dip
Jitters
Oscillations
Flat Top
Cusp
How would you classify these
(totally random) nova light curves?
S
P
D
J
O
F
C
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
AAVSO
Smooth
Plateau
Dust Dip
Jitters
Oscillations
Flat Top
Cusp
How would you classify these
(totally random) nova light curves?
S
P
D
J
O
F
C
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
AAVSO
Smooth
Plateau
Dust Dip
Jitters
Oscillations
Flat Top
Cusp
How would you classify these
(totally random) nova light curves?
S
P
D
J
O
F
C
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
AAVSO
Smooth
Plateau
Dust Dip
Jitters
Oscillations
Flat Top
Cusp
How would you classify these
(totally random) nova light curves?
S
P
D
J
O
F
C
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
AAVSO
Smooth
Plateau
Dust Dip
Jitters
Oscillations
Flat Top
Cusp
Supernovae are classified by a mix of spectral and
photometric characteristics into ~10 classes.
Type Ia = thermonuclear, white dwarf explosion
0d
Open Supernova Catalog – Guillochon, Parrent, Margutti (2016)
500d
Core Collapse type depends on the
pre-explosion mass-loss history of the star.
Hydrogen
Metals
Helium
Type II-L and II-P SNe come from stars which have
retained most of their outer hydrogen layers.
SNe II-P = light curve with a Plateau
0d
Open Supernova Catalog – Guillochon, Parrent, Margutti (2016)
300d
SNe II-L = light curve with a Linear decline
0d
100d
Open Supernova Catalog – Guillochon, Parrent, Margutti (2016)
Type IIb SNe come from stars that have retained
some of their outer hydrogen layers.
Type IIb = some hydrogen in spectra
0d
Open Supernova Catalog – Guillochon, Parrent, Margutti (2016)
150d
Type Ib SNe come from stars that have shed all of
their hydrogen, but retain some helium layers.
Type Ib = no hydrogen, some helium
0d
Open Supernova Catalog – Guillochon, Parrent, Margutti (2016)
120d
Type Ic SNe come from stars that have shed all of
their hydrogen and helium layers.
Type Ic = no hydrogen or helium
0d
150d
Open Supernova Catalog – Guillochon, Parrent, Margutti (2016)
SN 1987a was variously classified as II, II Pec, & II-P
0d
Open Supernova Catalog – Guillochon, Parrent, Margutti (2016)
500d
Type IIn SNe come from stars which have CSM from
previous, but recent, mass loss episodes.
SN IIn = Narrow spectral lines
0d
Open Supernova Catalog – Guillochon, Parrent, Margutti (2016)
200d
Novae
•  Smooth
•  Plateau
•  Dust Dip
•  Jitters
•  Oscillations
•  Flat-Topped
•  Cusp
Supernovae
•  Ia
•  Ib
•  Ic
•  Ibc
•  IIb
•  IIn
•  II-P
•  II-L
Novae
•  Smooth
•  Plateau
•  Dust Dip
•  Jitters
•  Oscillations
•  Flat-Topped
•  Cusp
Supernovae
•  Ia
•  Ib
•  Ic
•  Ibc
•  IIb
•  IIn
•  II-P
•  II-L
Novae
•  Smooth
•  Plateau
•  Dust Dip
•  Jitters
•  Oscillations
•  Flat-Topped
•  Cusp
Supernovae
•  Ia
•  Ib
•  Ic
•  Ibc
•  IIb
•  IIn
•  II-P
•  II-L
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