How much mass is typically ejected from a supernova?

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I like to explain this using a figure from a talk by Marco Limongi some years ago.

Initial versus final mass for stars more massive than about 10 solar masses.

Based on a given set of models, the $x$-axis shows the initial mass of the models and the $y$-axis the final mass. The different coloured layers show the composition of the star at the moment of collapse. The mass ejected in the supernova is the difference between the curve marked remnant mass, which specifies (for these models) how much matter became part of the remnant, and the final mass, which was the mass of the star at collapse, after it had already lost a lot during its life.

The interesting point in this prediction is the change between the supernovae that leave neutron stars versus those that leave black holes. At the boundary, there's a large drop in the supernova-ejecta mass, because the black hole doesn't have a surface off of which inward falling material can bounce.

But, though the broad trends are probably right, note that this is the result for a particular set of model assumptions (e.g. mass loss on the main sequence, supernova energy and dynamics). The amount of ejecta for the supernova of a given progenitor is an open question, and still subject to intense research.

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Still Thinking
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Still Thinking

Student of science.

Updated on March 23, 2020

Comments

  • Still Thinking
    Still Thinking over 3 years

    How much mass is released from a supernova of a 15 solar-mass star? 20? 25? What is the relation between star mass and mass ejected?

  • ProfRob
    ProfRob over 8 years
    +1 This figure more succinctly explains what I tried to do with words. I will withdraw my answer.
  • Kyle Kanos
    Kyle Kanos over 8 years
    Note that there are way more interesting things going on with the initial mass > $120\,M_\odot$, namely the pair-instability supernovae.
  • David Leonardo Ramos
    David Leonardo Ramos almost 5 years
    Do you have a reference for the figure? I'd like to use it.
  • Warrick
    Warrick almost 5 years
    I found this colour version and this black and white version. You might find more by poring through articles by Marco Limongi over the years.