A Detailed Breakdown of Core Collapse Supernovae

The amount of energy produced from the collapsing core of a massive star is pretty inconceivable. The mechanism that facilitates the creation and distribution of this energy is just as wild. If you're like me you may have heard that Supernovae are the result of stellar masses "bouncing" off the incredibly dense proto-neutron star core. Like many things in this world, reality is far more complicated.
The research presented here was conducted by the Princeton Supernovae Group. David Vartanyan acknowledges NSF and DoE funding and the computational facilities at NERSC, TACC, and ALCF, with special thanks to Joseph Insley for visualization. The research was published in doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stz3223 and doi.org/10.1093/mnras/sty2585.
Special thanks to:
- Dr. David Vartanyan for supplying high def simulation footage and answering questions
- Prof. Robin Jeffries for answering some questions and clearing up some misconceptions I had about the the Direct Urca Process and the collapse mechanism
Sources/Further Reading:
- Core-collapse supernova explosion theory: doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-03...
- Supernova Explosions: David Branch • J. Craig Wheeler
- Understanding Stellar Evolution: Henny J.G.L.M. Lamers, Emily M. Levesque
- Exploding Superstars|Understanding Supernovae and Gamma-Ray Bursts: Alain Mazure
- Direct URCA process in neutron stars with strong magnetic fields: iopscience.iop.org/article/10...
- The mechanism(s) of core-collapse supernovae: doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2016.0271
- Neutrino transport in core collapse supernovae: doi.org/10.1016/S0377-0427(99...
- ASASSN-15lh: A highly super-luminous supernova: doi.org/10.1126/science.aac9613
- Core Collapse Supernovae: flash.uchicago.edu/~calder/cor....
- Direct Urca process in a neutron star mantle: www.aanda.org/articles/aa/ful...
- The Life And Death Of Stars: faculty.wcas.northwestern.edu...

[@themathman2494]

Finally a science channel that actually explain things beyond surface level knowledge I already know

[@cesarcueto1995]

Try reading a book.

[@RiaGuy]

@@cesarcueto1995 Good luck finding a book updated with recent scientific research and discoveries. Also, try not to dis people on the internet, you aren't making them look bad XD

[@mackash]

@@RiaGuy And sorry if this aint you im describing. I dont know you. But you just made me laugh with the statement "recent scientific research and discoveries", all while commenting and pretending to be some sort of science expert trying to give advice on one of these silly online fantasist channels to dismiss the old ways for this cheap imposter taught today. Its too ironic. 90% of todays nerds are as far from real science as east is from west. Unfortunately for your pride, you are bundled into that mess of imposters by default due to the backward programming of your youth. You were rewarded by compromised institutions for having a subjective ability to REPEAT multiple choice question and answers, then getting a reward if you can regurgitate it astutely. And all by FORCE and under threat. You had no choice but to seek approval from it. Brainwashed from childhood never having the chance to investigate objectively. Its not even an option. You do what they tell you do do or you fail their reward process and are made to look inadequate in the group mentality. Its the same as giving a monkey a banana for doing cheap tricks and then punishing the ones who dont conform. The more rewarded you are, the more regressed you are. Thats a fact. That type of indoctrination of today only works on the weak, inexperienced and immature. Thats programming at its best. Its quite genius. Its actually child abuse. Its not science. Its called indoctrination. Its psychology if anything. And you all have serious Stockholm Syndrome due to it. Only the most subjective, inexperienced and naïve come out of it thinking its legit intellect and factual. And ol mate is correct. Go read a book. The old books have much more intelligent research than anything you cheer online or taught in the education institutions of today. The older it is, the more wisdom and fact to be found. Todays watered down version is a shell of what science was. Im old enough to remember the last fragments of empirical science and how far it has fallen into this mimic and shallow replica it is today. Its terrible how regressed it all is now. Yet you think its advanced? How bro? Social media? Gaming? Nasa fan boys? Elon Musk? Haha. What a farce. If anything its going backward. There is no advancement. Software is putting us back into the stone age. The peak of science was centuries ago. BEFORE Aristarchus and Copernicus came on the scene with their religious fantasy sky god concept.. Ancient tech is something todays rewarded graduates have no idea of. You only have to observe the oldest buildings to see we are regressing. That stuff IS science. Watching these silly online expert wannabes talking about fantasy conjecture as if its actual science, and then trying to give impression that you can chime in on it all and get away with it unchecked is on YOU mate. Haha. Its a terrible time to be alive. I had no idea men would be THIS stoopid. Internet has destroyed your generation. You wont start getting this type of wisdom until you are in your 40's. Its embarrassing mate.

[@RiaGuy]

@@mackash Drink more, and type less man. You're comment is extremely out of context that I can't imagine you being sober.

[@cesarcueto1995]

@@RiaGuy drink more? Is that supposed to be an insult? Have you ever read a book

[@dzfz2100]

This is incredible. I am a university lecturer (not in physics, though), and these videos are far clearer and better than anything I or my colleagues produce. Absolutely amazing resource - thank you for making this freely available to the world and the scientific teaching community. Every university should be donating to you for your efforts.

[@finneganlong6865]

It is amazing how much you can learn by asking why about everything

[@cyclitimb3336]

Thats awesome, what uni do you teach at?

[@Gamurboi]

yeah, i dont know much about subatomic particles but this video makes this process easier to understand

[@hellothere8675]

Universities are a joke

[@lancelefevre351]

@@hellothere8675 it's all in how you use/view them. Universities have been a breeding ground of a lot of the social bs that's been going on but the people who apply themselves become some amazing people through higher learning. Unfortunately, people can pay their way into these places and ruin it for many others. Social casts and the state of culture today have made higher learning kind of a joke in a few ways. It's still a beautiful thing.

[@blainelanders2361]

Even when explained so well, it is difficult to wrap my mind around the energy levels that are produced by these events.

[@rykehuss3435]

And gamma ray bursts are more energetic still. This guy didnt do his research.

[@DeadJack1999]

A moon sized object shrinking into a city size object in a second explains it well enough for me

[@r390gt1lm]

the energy levels are definitely over 9000

[@sankang9425]

@@DeadJack1999 A moon-sized object, that is more massive than the sun!

[@marcusaureliusregulus2833]

At this stage all we see are numbers. These are incomprehensible to the human mind.

[@jc740]

This is the first video that actually EXPLAINED how supernovae work in detail.

[@A_Saddler]

I've never seen such a well made explanation of the supernova process

[@HappyhipposMC]

It's amazing that the core can stop neutrinos, I've heard that you would need a sheet of lead 2 light years thick to do the same.

[@F.R.E.D.D2986]

Holy fuck

[@catalintimofti1117]

what in the hell

[@playerscience]

That is fucking insane...!!!

[@yarno8086]

Yeah they can fly straight through the earth

[@robjeffries8278]

Yes, that's about right. A light year of lead. But the collapsed core ends up being 1e13 times denser than lead, so a km of such material can block neutrinos.

[@iamjimgroth]

This is exactly the level I want science videos to be at! Now give us a serious of videos about each detail in this process! :D Edit: I realised "give us" sound a bit... Demanding. It wasn't. It was just me being eager for more. 😁

[@magtovi]

No need for an "edit explanation". Just add a "please" somewhere in there and it completely changes the tone.

[@iamjimgroth]

@@magtovi I think it's prudent for an edit explanation when some time has passed since a post has been made.

[@whatthe.4703]

Edit Series too in place of serious

[@magtovi]

@@iamjimgroth I still don't see any "please" in there.

[@ashroskell]

The potential for follow up material is boundless. He was microns away from describing the process by which denser than iron elements are made in these explosions. In the fleeting plank lengths of time that the flash of a star’s dying moments occur, exotic elements like gold, plutonium and other dense materials are made, without which there would be no us to wonder at it all. What always blows my mind so completely is that these moments of such utter destruction are also moments of total creation! The very stuff of which life is made possible is produced by the most destructive events known! The Yin and Yang of that is something to ponder.

[@andru1232]

Happy to see "But Why?" subscription count growing. I was surprised such quality was not more popular when I found this channel.

[@OrioPrisco]

just enough energy to send your memories back in time

[@DavidSquare9]

I see you're a man of culture

[@axolotl8437]

sounds familiar

[@sineupp]

El Psy Kongroo!

[@StinkyPoopyMcFartFace]

Is this a reference to what i think you're referencing? *insert supernova music*

[@afrizaldaniswaraali8980]

@@StinkyPoopyMcFartFace what is he referencing?

[@zacharyscott387]

Mad respect for the quality of your videos!

[@davyan01]

Thank you for reaching out! I had a blast (pun intended) chatting with you, and the video looks stellar.

[@IamLettuce13]

Lmao

[@BattousaiHBr]

> blast > stellar

[@harbingerdawn]

Yes, it was a blast to watch, absolutely stellar. I was totally absorbed in the explanations, and the visuals were radiant. I found the whole thing superlatively illuminating, and collapsed any uncertainties I had about this type of supernova. Totally blown away XD

[@igxniisan6996]

@@IamLettuce13 i thought they were in restroom and just had a blast

[@xRyann_]

@@harbingerdawn thank you for this comment

[@jasuxi]

Honestly when i found this channel, i didn’t focus on subscriber number, toight it was 500k~1m base on the videos and themes, now here i am, with only 17 comments before me. You deserve so much more.

[@liggerstuxin1]

He’ll get there. He seems new.

[@BS-bd4xo]

The quality is unbelievable! If he makes a video, I just know it's gonna be good! His video's are among the best there are on the platform. Comparable to even kurzgesagt! In my opinion, his best vid is "How starts die". But they are all so good!

[@KingOreo2017]

i think i subbed when he was on like 10k, so believe me i was even more surprised than you were

[@jurian0101]

We expect the number to explode like a supernova.

[@orti1283]

It's mind-bogglingliglglglgingly good

[@butsgalore]

It is the second of november 2021. This channel only has 122k subscribers at the moment. I predict a growth of this channel in the order of magnitude of the core rebound due to the strong force!

[@EmeraldArchive]

8th of November and they're sitting at 126k subs Keep the chain going

[@whatelseison8970]

Wow! Yep, that bogoggled my mind for sure! The direct Urca process answers a huge lingering question I had about all this. I'm gonna watch this video like 5 more times and be all over Wiki and google armed with powerful new search terms for weeks. Thanks for making this. I wish it were longer. I was glued to that simulation and your visuals (particularly the formation of the shell structure prior to the SN) were beautiful and elucidating as well. PBS Space Time better watch out 'cause you're crushing these topics harder than a collapsing core. I can say that because now I know roughly how hard that is. Bewm!

[@johnvivian9758]

ùU

[@Strype13]

Couldn't agree more. Such a superb presentation. Interesting that he spells "Urca" as "Erka" in the chapter section, though. I was a bit confused by that.

[@reddlesm7394]

This channel is so high in quality. Absolutely outstanding, deserves much more recognition

[@seraphik]

"As the silicon layer burns above during the last day of a star's life..." That sentence made me so existentially sad. To think even something as cosmically majestic as a star has a very last day of life...

[@PaulHigginbothamSr]

No reason to be sad seraphim. No you would not exist had a silicon layer not formed above an iron core in the center of a massive star. A bit of time ago. What boggles my mind is that we tripping dancing creatures in a sunlit meadow can hold and understand this in it's mind. It has not been very long that humans had an inkling of how we got here in the last 13 1/2 billion years. What happened before that is subject to a lot of thinking.

[@whatelseison8970]

So it goes.

[@rosewhite---]

@@PaulHigginbothamSr You need to stop idolising Sheldon from BigBangTheory. There has been no 13.5 billion years. Darwin proved this in his research on worms. Stop looking up and trying to understand stars and fantasizing about what they are and instead look down at your feet and try understand how earthworms were designed and how they help humans grow food.

[@FrenkMelk]

I really appreciate that we live in a time when we can watch videos like this that explain these processes in terms of their most elementary components. Visualizing these vast temperatures as exchange of elementary particles is exactly the kind of education Denise to be out there and not just a 'supernova is an exploding star' etc. MORE OF THIS PLEASE!

[@opiesmith9270]

Wow incredible. You did a fantastic job conceptually! I’ve never seen this process explained so thoroughly!

[@houserhouse]

This is one of the best science explanations and visualizations I have ever seen. Bravo. KZbin, please recommend this to everyone. This is cutting edge science

[@pzgamerch]

I don't know how long I have this feeling of like " wow I glad I found this channel"

[@hgslawyer]

Fantastic, until today I thought the strong force rebound was the supernova. Thank you for the detailed explanation of what we now know.

[@alansilverman8500]

Yes, it's a very important distinction...everyone hears "core bounce" and assumes it's the outer envelope exploding...!

[@fariesz6786]

the Urca process was super intriguing to see for me. i looked up a few thing and there are so many interesting tidbits about it (the naming alone is top notch) but what i found the intersting was this: i was a bit confused about how the process could pump out so many leptons when the lepton number is supposed to me a conserved quantity; and while one could of course still model it that way i indeed read that lepton number conservation seems to be more of a statistical truth, which made much more sense to me seeing that the Urca process converts something rather statistical in nature (namely thermal energy) to a quantized form of energy.

[@Strype13]

My brain just went supernova. 🤯 Absolutely phenomenal presentation, though. Definitely the best analytical breakdown of a CC Supernova I've ever seen on this platform. Incredibly well done. Really appreciate you putting this together and sharing it with us. Keep up the amazing work, my friend(s).

[@iveharzing]

It is rare to find a physics/science video that explains topics that I do not yet understand, while AT THE SAME TIME explaining it so well that I understand what happens. (instead of being overwhelmed by unknown stuff) Thank you for this video, you've gained yourself a new subscriber!

[@Materialist39]

This deeper dive into this process gave me such a better understanding of not just supernovae but also how fundamental particles interact, amazing video and series!

[@TheMasonX23]

Absolutely incredible video as always! The way you explain things, combined with the gorgeous and intuitively understandable graphics put you in the god tier of science KZbinrs, hands down! Please keep up the great work!

[@KarlMarcus8468]

This is great. I've always heard the pop science version of what a super nova is and it's always left me with so many question. Incredible video as always and thanks for the answers. (the animations are great too)

[@Lighteraura1547]

Stumbled across this channel a few hours ago and I'm so glad I did. Love the channel and information in the videos

[@jake8217]

This channel is freaking awesome. Remember us when you go big.

[@PaulHigginbothamSr]

Probably the best explanation of this event yet done. Thank you very very much, I am waiting for your further intrigues on this topic.

[@tinycnyc]

The most energetic event in the universe is me waking up every morning.

[@spaciousflame]

Remind me not to be within a few hundred light-years of you when you wake up.

[@Deeplycloseted435]

Wow, thanks for going to the next level of depth. We’ve all already seen the usual explanation dozens of times......we know that already. So good to learn new things.

[@MolecularMachine]

The intro to this is what finally made me grok the significance of iron as the final fusion step. Nothing ever explained it adequately before. Thanks!

[@georgeburdell517]

This is one of the best explanatory vids I've ever seen on YT... the explanation is exquisite -- this type of explanation and teaching needs to be replicated over and over!

[@Yora21]

I've been reading and watching everything I could find about core collapses for probably 10 years. Why is this the first time I've heard about the strong force pushing the core back out to a greater volume? It's really not a difficult concept if you made it that far in the explanation.

[@tamasbarabas574]

WOW. It is mind boggling. There are a few things that I couldn’t understand but until this day a haven’t seen any videos on KZbin or any other platform, that visually explained what happens in the core of massive stars. Thank you!

[@WilliamMelton617]

This channel is amazing man...just found it today, and you seriously teach things on a deeper level than other channels, I have watched multiple PBS spacetime on supernovae and I I never knew alot of what you taught here. Straight artisanal man!

[@CloveHitchJack]

This is like my hundredth time going through this topic, so glad this fantastic video is here to justify another wander

[@stefanhennig]

Thank you! This answered a years old question of mine, i. e. why we expect gravitational waves from supernovae. As far as I know, gravitational waves need quadrupole and up excitements and I always thought of supernovae being mostly a radial motion thing. with dipole motion being crucial to the process, this makes so much more sense.

[@colinhendry6116]

This is the first new video I got to watch! I discovered the channel recently last month and have binge watched everything. Thank you for the effort put into these vids-- they are incredibly informative and fun to watch!

[@camron317]

Idk how im just discovering your channel, this is quality stuff! Great work, cant wait to dig into your videos tomorrow!

[@onemanmob6756]

The best, most in-depth and clearest description of core collapse supernova I have found anywhere on YT, and although I am no scientist, I am fascinated by the high-energy universe and watch a lot of videos on this subject. Fascinating! Mind blowing! Thanks!

[@qelipothaumiel]

Discovered your channel about a month or 2 ago and love it. Love the way you explain things and the visual representations. That blue figurine buddy has learned a special place in my heart.

[@TheMietz]

Such a great explaination! Thank you so much

[@finnmulder8911]

Extremely well presented, thanks a lot for your effort!

[@spacedoutorca4550]

The channel name is incredibly apt for the topics discussed- I always knew about how supernovas were caused by the core collapsing, but never why that exactly led to the star exploding. This perfectly answered that “but why” question I didn’t even know I wanted answered.

[@lroccaro]

I was not expecting that Veritasium cameo

[@whatelseison8970]

More of a screen shot really. That would be cool though if Derek stopped by at some point though. You never know, it could happen.

[@lroccaro]

@@whatelseison8970 totally agree

[@ardellolnes5663]

Love the line your little character draws simulating you "drawing the line"! I draw the exact same line in my notes to seperate sections. A perfectly not straight squiggly sorta circle back around! Perfect

[@geobrah1284]

looking forward to all your future vids, I really enjoy your content

[@kenh9508]

I feel almost euphoric watching these videos. Thank you

[@bennyhoffa7648]

Thrilled you're over 100k subs! Love this channel, thank you for taking the time to make such clear videos

[@krishankyadav8486]

Extremely informative video! Not only are the animations really well made, the research and simulations, especially in this video clearly show just how much work is put into making it.

[@BS-bd4xo]

The quality is unbelievable! If he makes a video, I just know it's gonna be good! His video's are among the best there are on the platform. Comparable to even kurzgesagt! In my opinion, his best vid is "How starts die". But they are all so good!

[@otherwiseagain6966]

Fantastic video, great job on the clarity and graphical effects 👏 😀 👍

[@BertGrink]

Mindboggling indeed! But also incredibly fascinating. Thanks for making thse videos.

[@ryanatkinson2978]

This answered SO many questions I've had. I love astrophysics. This channel as well, so well explained

[@NorDank]

You always strike the perfect balance of explaining it well enough for normal people to understand, but also clearly enough so one learns from it

[@evandealy3493]

this guys uploads and i gotta drop everything to watch these amazing videos

[@cw6043]

you made this in such a way that it explained a lot of complex stuff I knew about from crash course astronomy even better

[@wleizero]

That's a lot of fresh info crammed into a very short video. Well done!

[@RenBR]

This channel is awesome...keep up the good work :D

[@ashroskell]

Just keep going, dude?! This stuff is hypnotic! Your graphics team deserves an award or two as well. Mesmerising to watch, with a unique quality of tangibility to them that you just don’t get from the graphs and stock footage you see on so many other leading channels of this sciencey nature. I’ll have to watch this one, two or three more times before I fully grasp it all, but it scores an 11 on my fascinate-o’meter (which breaks at 10 btw) so I just have to see more of those beautiful animations and listen to your awe inspired voice telling me all about the biggest, hottest, most mind-alteringly, incomprehensibly vast events in the universe! Thank you.

[@diegonogueira8222]

by far, the best explanation about a supernovae that i ever seen in my entire life! So many questions that i've had coud be answered by you, like how the bounce works. Thank you so much. Subscribed!

[@shingnosis]

This is magnitudes better than anything I've ever seen on TV on the subject, kudos.

[@addemater]

Your production quality is insane. And your explanation is so thorough yet simple. Insane.

[@robotaholic]

This explanation of what happens in these extreme circumstances in physics of stars is exactly what I wanted explained to me for so long. Thank you

[@okiepokey4033]

Incredible video, thank you for taking your time to make this!

[@srb20012001]

So well done with just the right amount of rigor to both entertain and inform.

[@simonlaker2139]

I got a wiff of how a supernova worked some 10 years ago but left more questions than answers. Thanks. Will watch again.

[@janvesely6353]

Some time ago, I was digesting a lecture about similar topic, very interesting, yet also hard to remember in all the details. I appreciate your ability to produce such a compact, easy to understand and remember summary, really a good job!

[@Henrique-hl3xk]

amazing, just AMAZING video. This level of content is incredible, not some "superficial" thing as 99% of youtube videos congrats from Brazil. Really, this is an incredible work that you have done

[@mouzerofficial]

Amazing quality stuff. Keep it up!

[@kin0cho]

Excellent work! It's amazing how much insight into the most energetic event in the universe behind the big bang.

[@crackedemerald4930]

3:57 this is a crazy little graph, the distance in fentometers and the force in kilonewtons

[@teunkruijer]

Your videos are a treat as always. The animations and complexity are always right on point. Keep up the great work :D

[@LikeTheBirb]

this is by far the most concise and accurately visual representation I've seen on this

[@dylanhayden8825]

Fascinating. The best video I've seen on this process.

[@BenjaminMaggi]

I just subscribed a few weeks ago because I love your vid. on photosynthesis but I quickly found it how much more interesting and diverse topics your channel has high quality content love it! thanks !

[@mandarpawar7015]

Very Detailed Video, with Good Graphics. Much Appreciated.

[@robotaholic]

I finally understand so much more and have to watch again! Ty so much!

[@busybillyb33]

This has got to be the most well explained and well animated video on core collapse supernovae in the entire internet or anywhere in the world! I know it is a complex mechanism involving so many different astro/particle physics theories, but this video is so easy to understand and follow that one can fully appreciate how mindbogglinglingling this process is. I hereby award you with my poor man's Nobel Award for best science explanation.

[@gustavofranco7598]

Great stuff and superb explanation!!! Glad I found this channel!

[@tobyc8905]

Love how you make complex ideas easy to understand

[@duncanacampbell]

Every video gets better and better. So awesome.

[@landondyer]

Deep respect for the amount of detail and the pointers to more information. I'd heard that stalling shockwaves were a theoretical problem, but hadn't heard of any of the theories for why they un-stall.

[@mycology5242]

Best visuals and animations, and stellar explanations

[@robbie8142]

We don't need my little comment to realise how dedicated AND truly gifted our video host has become! Thankyou very much! If I didn't already know this stuff it would have even been better! 🥴👻🚀

[@gavenmorgan9145]

Mind boggogglingingly brilliant

[@peterresetz1960]

So some stars go fizzle or pop, and some stars go boom. Got it. Very well produced video. Really good graphics, and CG. Narration well spoken, without annoying background music. Extra points for a brief production introduction, and then straight to the subject. I just discovered this channel, and this is the second video I watched. Definitely subscribed and will be watching the rest of video catalog. Highly entertaining.

[@Meow_YT]

Wonderful explanation of "star goes boom" ... thank you.

[@harliethomas1378]

Fantastic Video! Thank You!

[@hawks9nkh]

Great video, and great channel. Keep it up!

[@dmreturns6485]

Amazing description. This is very cool.

[@solapowsj25]

Like the stars in the background, a glittering, stellar presentation. Thank you🌹.

[@TreyRuiz]

Best explications of more advanced topics on the internet, with amazing visuals! Thank you!

[@DylanHolmesGgs]

Love your content. Thank you for producing such wonderful and educational pieces of the cosmos.

[@abhijiths5237]

The explanation was very easy to understand. Thank you for the video

[@lynx8779]

Someone explain to me how this one man is able to create animations better than literally anything made by National Geographic ever

[@Strype13]

Why would you assume it's one man creating these? Just because you hear one narrator does not mean there's only one man involved in the production process. Have you gone through your entire life under that impression?

[@rossmakibbin7403]

Why hasn't anyone else taught me anything remotely close to this? There's a reason why I subscribe to you, and even moreso why I religiously have that notification bell turned on and never miss an episode.

[@DeuxisWasTaken]

I laughed at the Direct Urka Process animation, well done, informative and entertaining

[@o0AlexG0o]

One of the best explananations on KZbin! Also amazing animation