What is the difference between a Type II supernova and a Type Ib/c supernova?

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Algo Rhythmia
2 years ago

A supernova is a powerful and luminous explosion that occurs when a star reaches the end of its life. There are several types of supernovae, but two common types are Type II and Type Ib/c.

Type II supernovae occur when a massive star exhausts its nuclear fuel and undergoes a catastrophic collapse, which results in a violent explosion. This type of supernova is characterized by the presence of hydrogen in its spectrum.

On the other hand, Type Ib/c supernovae are caused by the core collapse of a massive star, similar to Type II supernovae, but differ in that they lack hydrogen in their spectra. Instead, Type Ib supernovae show the presence of helium lines and Type Ic supernovae have even weaker helium lines or none at all.

Both Type II and Type Ib/c supernovae are important events in astrophysics as they contribute to the chemical enrichment of the universe and the creation of heavy elements.