This is an archival copy of the Visualization Group's web page 1998 to 2017. For current information, please vist our group's new web page.

These figures show a spectrum synthesis calculation of a supernova atmosphere surrounded by a toroid. The layout of the atmosphere is presented on the right while at the left we have a graph of the flux vs. wavelength vs. viewing angle (Figure A) and of the polarization vs wavelength vs. viewing angle (Figure B). For viewing angles where the toroid obscures the underlying atmosphere, a strong absorption feature appears in the flux spectrum. Observations of such a feature allows one to determine the 3-dimensional geometry of the supernova ejecta, and hence put strong constraints on the progenitors and explosion physics of Type Ia supernovae.
Flux as a function of viewing angle MPEG.
Polarization as a function of viewing angle MPEG.

P.Nugent, D.Kasen, LBNL
more images