Core-Collapse Supernovae & Stellar Remnants: Foundations

Core-collapse supernovae occur when a massive star builds a central core that can no longer support itself.

Iron fusion cannot provide net energy under ordinary stellar conditions, while electron captures and photodisintegration reduce support as the core grows unstable.

Supernova light curves, spectra, expanding remnants, radioactive decay signatures, compact remnants, and the neutrino burst from SN 1987A all support the core-collapse model.