Supernova 1987A

Using all the available data, this paper examines and attempts to outline the general physical picture of the outburst of Supernova 1987A that appeared on February 23rd 1987. Emphasis is placed on the identification and evolutionary status of the presupernova (PSN), which was found to be a massive star of spectral type B3 1a. A theory is proposed that the mechanism of explosive envelope ejection was induced by the gravitational collapse of the central stellar core into a neutron star or a black hole. Also recorded are the observations of SN 1987A over the entire electromagnetic spectrum from radio waves to the gamma region. Particular attention is paid to radiative and hydrodynamic phenomena accompanying the expulsion of the SN envelope. This includes the propagation of a shock wave through the interiors of PSN and its emergence onto the stellar surface, the transition of the envelolpe into a state of free inertial expansion, the appearance of the SN light curve and the formation of the cooling and recombination wave. This historic supernova has enabled scientists to prove the authenticity of many of the basic theories of stellar evolution, especially SN outbursts. Perhaps more importantly, SN 1987A poses a number of specific problems that can now be tackled more accurately than before.

Table of Contents:
The discovery of supernova 1987A; pre-supernova 1987A and the theory of stellar evolution - identification of PSN 1987A, theory of stellar evolution and interpretation of PSN, the assumed explosion mechanism; optical observations of SN 1987A - spectral observations, photometric observations; hydrodynamic theory of supernova outbursts and the SN 1987A - the physical model of envelope ejection, the emergence of the shock wave at the surface of PSN 1987A, hydrodynamic transition to the stage of free expansion in the SN 1987A envelope, recombination in SN envelopes - a cooling and recombination wave; observed SN 1987A light curves and their hydrodynamic modelling - SN 1987A light curves and the hydrodynamic models, SN 1987A among other supernovae; X-rays and gamma radiation from SN 1987A - the discovery of x-ray emmission from SN 1987A, the discovery of Co gamma-lines and future work; radio emission from SN 1987A; neutrino radiation from SN 1987A - a physical model of neutrino bursts from collapsing stellar cores, comparison of the theoretical properties of the neutrino burst with those observed in SN 1987A, concluding remarks.