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University of California

Unveiling the Secrets of SN 2019hnl: A Type IIP Supernova with a Partially Stripped, Low-mass Progenitor

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, have conducted a comprehensive study on the Type IIP supernova, SN 2019hnl. This research sheds light on the properties of the supernova, including its peak absolute V-band magnitude, plateau length, and early decline rate. The findings indicate that the progenitor of SN 2019hnl was an M-11 M_red supergiant, which produced 0.047 ± 0.007 M_ of 56Ni in the explosion.

Key Takeaways:

  • SN 2019hnl is a typical Type IIP supernova with a peak absolute V-band magnitude of -16.7 ± 0.1 mag, a plateau length of 107 days, and an early decline rate of 0.0086 ± 0.0006 mag (50 days)^-1.
  • Hydrodynamic modeling with the snec, mesa, and stella codes inferred that the progenitor of SN 2019hnl was an M_11 M_red supergiant.
  • The research suggests that the progenitor of a typical Type IIP SN may experience partial stripping during their evolution and establish massive (0.2 M_) circumstellar material environments prior to core collapse.
  • The study used nebular spectroscopy and hydrodynamic modeling to understand the properties of SN 2019hnl.
  • The research was funded by the National Science Foundation, Heising-Simons Foundation, and John Templeton Foundation.
  • The authors of the study included Aidan Martas, Stefano Valenti, Aravind P. Ravi, Yize Dong, K. Azalee Bostroem, Jeniveve Pearson, Manisha Shrestha, Jennifer E. Andrews, David J. Sand, Griffin Hosseinzadeh, Michael Lundquist, Emily Hoang, Darshana Mehta, Nicolas Meza Retamal, Saurabh W. Jha, Daryl Janzen, D. Andrew Howell, Curtis McCully, Daichi Hiramatsu, and Craig Pellegrino.

Statistics:

  • Peak absolute V-band magnitude: -16.7 ± 0.1 mag
  • Plateau length: 107 days
  • Early decline rate: 0.0086 ± 0.0006 mag (50 days)^-1
  • Progenitor mass: 11 M_
  • Nickel-56 production: 0.047 ± 0.007 M_
  • Circumstellar material environment mass: 0.2 M_

Sources:

  • "SN 2019hnl: A Type IIP Supernova with a Partially Stripped, Low-mass Progenitor." The Astrophysical Journal, 2025, 993(1):28. (DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ae0617)
  • NewsRx. Research from University of California Reveals New Findings on Physics (SN 2019hnl: A Type IIP Supernova with a Partially Stripped, Low-mass Progenitor). Physics Week. November 4, 2025; p 302.

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