Can a hypernova explosion last for years?

[bobie]

How long can the explosion of a super/hyper nova last?,
does time depend on mass?
is it possible that an explosion lasts for years?

Thanks

 

[phyzguy]

How long can the explosion of a super/hyper nova last?,
does time depend on mass?
is it possible that an explosion lasts for years?
Thanks

How do you define the end of the explosion? The supernova ejects material into mostly empty space and this material continues expanding for a very long time. For example, this image is of a supernova that exploded in 1006 AD. It is still expanding. So do you consider this explosion to be still occurring? Or is the explosion "over"?

 

[bobie]

How do you define the end of the explosion? The supernova ejects material into mostly empty space and this material continues expanding for a very long time. For example, this image is of a supernova that exploded in 1006 AD. It is still expanding. So do you consider this explosion to be still occurring? Or is the explosion "over"?

If I can make a comparison with a volcano, when matter stops being thrown out.
My question is if the esplosion is lake a blast of dynamite, or like a volcano , which can erupt for weeks. Can the star eject material for centuries? does time depend on size, power, speed etc.?

 

[phyzguy]

If I can make a comparison with a volcano, when matter stops being thrown out.
My question is if the esplosion is lake a blast of dynamite, or like a volcano , which can erupt for weeks. Can the star eject material for centuries? does time depend on size, power, speed etc.?

I see. In that respect, it is more like a blast of dynamite. Most of the energy is deposited in a fraction of a second, and the explosion just evolves from there. The main qualification of this is that many of the heavy nuclei that are ejected are unstable, and they decay over a period of months to years and deposit their energy of decay in the expanding shell.

 

[bobie]

Thanks a lot