Astrophysics (Index)About

kilonova

(KN, macronova)
(explosive event larger than a nova and smaller than a supernova)

A kilonova (KN or macronova) is an astronomical flash of EMR corresponding to an explosion more energetic than an "ordinary" nova but less than a supernova. The term is generally used for a specific type of event that produces such a flash: the collision of two dense bodies, which is typically 1000 times brighter than a nova but a tenth or a hundredth of a supernova. Much of the EMR from a kilonova is thought to occur in the infrared, making OIR observation useful. GW170817's optical counterpart is classified as a kilonova, confirming the theory that neutron star mergers produce them. The optical transient faded more rapidly than a supernova.

Models developed for kilonovae have been classified as blue kilonova models versus red kilonova models, the color names used to indicate a shorter versus longer wavelength EMR rather than the actual colors: both deal with peaks in the near infrared. The red models would be producing more lanthanides and the blue, less. GW170817 shows some of each, with "red model" characteristics revealed after "blue model" characteristics had subsided. The term blue kilonova has been used for some observed kilonovae.


(stars,event type,transient type,neutron stars,mergers)
Further reading:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilonova
https://dictionary.obspm.fr/index.php/index.php?showAll=1&formSearchTextfield=kilonova
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017LRR....20....3M/abstract
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2020FrP.....8..355B/abstract
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1998ApJ...507L..59L/abstract
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2010MNRAS.406.2650M/abstract

Referenced by pages:
Astrocats
GW170817
neutron degenerate matter
r-process
short gamma-ray burst (SGRB)
standard siren
supernova light curve (SN light curve)
transient (AT)
transient astronomy

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