There are some very strange stars that keep exploding, but the mystery can be solved if you know their origin.

This is a very strange phenomenon that causes stars to explode, and we do not fully understand why.

Type Ic supernovae are astrophysical phenomena that occur when a massive star in the final stages of its evolution collapses and explodes. Unlike other types of supernovae, Type Ic supernovae lack spectral lines of hydrogen or helium, suggesting that the outer layers of these elements were removed before the explosion. These supernovae, known as stripped-shell supernovae, present a real headache for astronomers due to the difficulty of conclusively determining the origin of these explosions. This is a topic that is as complex as it is fascinating, and it is truly difficult to understand all the intricacies of these issues.

One of the most common hypotheses is that Type Ic supernovae originate from stars in binary systems.. In this scenario, a massive star with a stellar companion loses its outer layers of hydrogen and helium due to mass transfer to the companion star. In contrast, in Type II supernovae, stars retain some of their hydrogen before exploding. This difference is fundamental to understanding the differences observed in the spectra of both types of supernovae.

Complex but interesting topic.

Recent studies, supported by observations from the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA), have allowed astronomers to compare the properties of molecular gas in the environments of different types of supernovae. In particular, a recent study published in the journal Nature Communications tells us how Type Ic and Type II supernovae have been found to occur in regions with similar molecular gas densities.suggesting that the progenitor stars of both types have comparable masses and lifetimes. This discovery supports the idea that the progenitors of Type Ic supernovae are intermediate-mass stars that develop in binary systems where interaction with a companion star is a key factor in the loss of outer layers.

The role of massive stars in creating heavy elements in the Universe is critical. Type Ic and other core collapse supernovae are responsible for the production of elements heavier than iron.. After the explosion, these elements spread throughout interstellar space, contributing to the formation of new stars and planets. Studying type Ic supernovae is important not only for understanding the processes of stellar evolution, but also for understanding how chemical elements are distributed in galaxies.

One difficulty in studying these supernovae is the lack of direct detections of their progenitor stars in pre-explosion images. Only in a few cases has a possible progenitor star for type Ic supernovae been identified, leading to debate about whether these events originate from very massive stars or from less massive stars in binary systems. The absence of hydrogen and helium in the spectrum of Type Ic supernovae remains one of the most intriguing aspects of these events.. Some models suggest that massive stars can lose these layers due to strong stellar winds, while others support a binary system theory where a stellar companion plays a crucial role in removing these layers.

In addition, there is evidence linking some Type Ic supernovae to gamma-ray explosions, a high-energy phenomenon. These supernovae, known as Type Ic broadline supernovae, typically have progenitor stars are more massive than standard Type Ic supernovae. However, when these events are excluded from the sample, the results on the characteristics of the progenitors of standard Type Ic supernovae remain constant.

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