Speaker
Description
Over the last decade, the scenario of choked jets embedded in core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe) has garnered significant attention. The extended stellar envelopes of red supergiant (RSG) and blue supergiant (BSG) stars, both progenitors of Type II supernovae, pose a challenge to the launch of a powerful jet capable of piercing through them. As the jet propagates, it dissipates energy in a double-shock structure that forms at its head. The hot material at the jet’s head spills sideways, creating a cocoon that engulfs and collimates the jet. If the jet traverses a significant fraction of the stellar envelope before choking, the cocoon can become energetic enough to break out of the star, producing ultraviolet (UV) and optical emissions that persist for several days. Identifying both these electromagnetic signals is crucial for characterizing RSGs and BSGs, given the low probability of gamma rays escaping.
Here, I discuss the prospects of measuring UV emission in light of the upcoming launch of the ULTRASAT satellite, which will operate in the UV band and complement the capabilities of the currently active optical telescope ZTF. Furthermore, choked jets are of great interest in the growing field of multi-messenger astronomy, as they are considered potential contributors to the astrophysical diffuse neutrino flux, which remains unassociated with any known source. In this context, I explore the potential of multi-messenger observations to optimize joint detections across UV, optical, and neutrino telescopes, enhancing synergy between different observational facilities.
