Magnetar-Powered Supernovae in Two Dimensions. I. Superluminous Supernovae

Understand

Previous studies have shown that the radiation emitted by a rapidly rotating magnetar embedded in a young supernova can greatly amplify its luminosity.

• These one-dimensional studies have also revealed the existence of an instability arising from the piling up of radiatively accelerated matter in a thin dense shell deep inside the supernova.
• Here we examine the problem in two dimensions and find that, while instabilities cause mixing and fracture this shell into filamentary structures that reduce the density contrast, the concentration of matter in a hollow shell persists.
• The extent of the mixing depends upon the relative energy input by the magnetar and the kinetic energy of the inner ejecta.