Probing the Mass-Loss History of Massive Stars with Swift

  • Margutti, Raffaella (PD/PI)

Project: Research project

Project Details

Description

Contrary to expectations from current stellar evolutionary models, recent observations uncovered the ejection of shells of material by massive stars in the years before the supernova explosion, thus revealing our inadequate understanding of the last stages of evolution of massive stars. Here we propose a focused Swift project, with the aim to (i) constrain the mass-loss history of massive stars before explosion, employing multi-wavelength observations of the supernova shock breaking out through a dense medium; and (ii) constrain the efficiency of cosmic-ray acceleration by supernova shocks. This study will open up a new window of investigation on the SN shock circum stellar medium interaction.
StatusFinished
Effective start/end date1/6/171/5/19

Funding

  • NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (NNX17AD82G)

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