Infrared Spectropolarimetric Detection of Intrinsic Polarization from a Core-Collapse Supernova

Understand

Massive stars die an explosive death as a core-collapse supernova (CCSN).

• The exact physical processes that cause the collapsing star to rebound into an explosion are not well-understood, and the key in resolving this issue may lie in the measurement of the shape of CCSNe ejecta.
• Spectropolarimetry is the only way to perform this measurement for CCSNe outside of the Milky Way and Magellanic Clouds.
• We present an infrared (IR) spectropolarimetric detection of a CCSN, enabled by the new highly sensitive WIRC+Pol instrument at Palomar Observatory, that can observe CCSNe (M = -17 mags) out to 20 Mpc to ~0.1% polarimetric precision.