After Supernova: What Happens Next?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the processes following a supernova explosion, particularly focusing on the formation of new stars from the remnants of the explosion and the role of hydrogen and heavier elements in this process. Participants explore the implications of supernova events on stellar evolution and the distribution of elements in the universe.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Mustafa AYDIN questions how hydrogen can form new stars after a supernova, given that the star has exhausted its hydrogen fuel and produced heavier elements.
  • Some participants note that there is abundant hydrogen in the universe, comprising about 75% of baryonic matter, which can contribute to star formation.
  • It is suggested that large stars do not convert all their material into iron before going supernova, leaving unburned hydrogen in the outer layers.
  • Participants mention that the core of a supernova typically collapses into a neutron star or black hole, and that the explosion itself can create heavier elements from the outer layers of the star.
  • There is a discussion about the dynamics of the explosion, indicating that while heavy elements are produced, the shock wave through hydrogen does not allow for significant fusion due to the rapidity of the event.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the availability of hydrogen for star formation post-supernova and the processes involved in element formation during the explosion. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the specifics of how new stars can form from the remnants of a supernova.

Contextual Notes

Some claims depend on the definitions of terms like "burned" and "unburned" matter, and there are unresolved aspects regarding the processes of fusion and the timing of events during a supernova explosion.

aydinmustafa
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It is going to be a long question, thanks for reading and answering it on advance,

In order to get a star explode as a supernova, it should be big enough and should finish its fuel (hydrogen) after the star explodes as a supernova the iron in center fused to heavier elements such as gold, chrome, lead etc and diffuses all these things and rest of the star to space and forms a nebula. Then gravity takes its role and starts getting hydrogen atoms together again and forms new stars.
My question is, that star exploded as supernova finished all hydrogen it had before the explosion and as a result of explosion heavier elements occurred, how come hydrogen atoms get together to form new star, as there is heavier elements which are bigger in mass as well shouldn't those heavier elements have bigger gravity to get everything together in the center of the nebula? and where do hydrogen atoms come from as star finished all hydrogen before it exploded?
Regards
Mustafa AYDIN
 
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There is plenty of hydrogen around outside of individual stars. It makes up about 75% of the baryonic (ordinary) matter of the universe.
 
aydinmustafa said:
It is going to be a long question, thanks for reading and answering it on advance,

In order to get a star explode as a supernova, it should be big enough and should finish its fuel (hydrogen) after the star explodes as a supernova the iron in center fused to heavier elements such as gold, chrome, lead etc and diffuses all these things and rest of the star to space and forms a nebula. Then gravity takes its role and starts getting hydrogen atoms together again and forms new stars.
My question is, that star exploded as supernova finished all hydrogen it had before the explosion and as a result of explosion heavier elements occurred, how come hydrogen atoms get together to form new star, as there is heavier elements which are bigger in mass as well shouldn't those heavier elements have bigger gravity to get everything together in the center of the nebula? and where do hydrogen atoms come from as star finished all hydrogen before it exploded?
Regards
Mustafa AYDIN
1. Most of the normal matter in the universe has yet to ever collapse so far that it forms a star.
2. Large stars don't process all of their material. They go supernova when the iron core reaches sufficient size that it can't support its own weight. That happens long before the entire star is converted into iron.
 
Also, when a supernova happens, the core usually collapses into a neutron star or black hole. The formation of gold, lead, and heavier elements happens from the force of the explosion itself on the outer layers of the star. This fuses certain amounts together into heavier and heavier elements.
 
aydinmustafa said:
My question is, that star exploded as supernova finished all hydrogen it had before the explosion and as a result of explosion heavier elements occurred, how come hydrogen atoms get together to form new star, as there is heavier elements which are bigger in mass as well shouldn't those heavier elements have bigger gravity to get everything together in the center of the nebula? and where do hydrogen atoms come from as star finished all hydrogen before it exploded?

Good question. In your typical supernova most of the matter ends up unburned. The star will go boom when the core has 1.4 solar mass of iron, but if you have a 20 solar mass star, the outer layers will still be unburned hydrogen.
 
Drakkith said:
Also, when a supernova happens, the core usually collapses into a neutron star or black hole. The formation of gold, lead, and heavier elements happens from the force of the explosion itself on the outer layers of the star.

When the shock goes through the iron and silicon layers, you do get some production of heavy elements, but there is very little fusion when the shock goes their the hydrogen layer. The problem is that hydrogen takes a while to fuse, and so when you throw a shock wave through hydrogen, it happens too quick for anything much to happen.
 

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