Exploring the Potential Diversity of Early Type Ia Supernova Light Curves

Understand

During the first several days after explosion, Type Ia supernova light curves probe the outer layers of the exploding star and therefore provide important clues for identifying their progenitors.

• We investigate how both the shallow $^{56}$Ni distribution and the presence of circumstellar material shape these early light curves.
• This is performed using a series of numerical experiments with parameterized properties for systematic exploration.
• Although not all of the considered models may be realized in nature (and indeed there are arguments why some of them should not occur), the spirit of this work is to provide a broader exploration of the diversity of possibilities.