Cosmic Explosions: Seeds of Life

Poonam ChandraRoyal Military College of Canada

Universe is 14 billion years old.Our sun is 5 billion years.

Supernovae and Gamma ray burstsExplosions lasting fraction of a second to few seconds.

SN & GRB: Most powerful explosions

• Energy is 1029 times more than an atmospheric nuclear bomb explosion.

• One supernova can shine brighter than the whole galaxy consisting of 200 billion stars.

• As much energy in 1 month as Sun will emit in 5 billion years.

• Gamma ray bursts are 100 times more powerful than even supernovae.

DEATH OF MASSIVE STARS

Nuclear reactions inside a heavy star

Core Collapse

Supernovae

In our universe, roughly 1-8 supernova explodes

every second and around 1 GRB is detected everyday.

Supernovae: seeds of life

03rd Aug 2007

BIG BANG

75% HYDROGEN

25% HELIUM

HEAVY ELEMENTS????

Supernovae: seeds of life

Calcium in our bones

Oxygen we breathe

Iron, Aluminium in our cars

Nuclear reactions inside a heavy star

Our Earth is Safe…

BETELGEUSE

500 light years away

Nearest Supernova Candidate

RADIO TELESCOPES

VLA

GMRT

X-ray telescopes

XMM

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