Speaker
Description
The final stages of massive star evolution are strongly influenced by episodes of intense mass loss, which shape the circumstellar environment into which the supernova (SN) explosion expands. When the SN ejecta interact with this circumstellar material (CSM), the resulting radiation provides a unique diagnostic of the progenitor’s mass-loss history in the years to decades prior to explosion.
The Known by the Loss program is designed to investigate the structure and physical properties of the CSM around interacting supernovae through systematic observations and detailed modeling. By targeting supernovae exhibiting signatures of ejecta–CSM interaction, we aim to constrain the density profiles, mass-loss rates, and temporal variability of the progenitor winds or eruptive episodes that produced the surrounding material.
Our strategy combines multi-epoch observations with photometric analysis to trace the evolution of the interaction-powered emission and identify signatures of complex or episodic mass loss. These measurements will provide insights into the pre-supernova evolution of massive stars and help distinguish between steady winds and eruptive mass-loss scenarios.
The results from this program will contribute to a better understanding of the physical mechanisms driving late-stage stellar mass loss and their role in shaping the diversity of interacting supernovae.