The discussion centers on the phenomenon of neutrinos arriving before light during a supernova event. Neutrinos are released almost instantaneously at the onset of the core-collapse supernova, while light takes longer due to interactions with the star's outer layers. More than 99% of the energy from a core-collapse supernova escapes as neutrinos, which travel at nearly the speed of light, unlike photons that are delayed by interactions with ions and free electrons. This timing difference is attributed to the neutronization phase occurring before the visible explosion.
PREREQUISITESAstronomers, astrophysicists, and students interested in stellar phenomena and the physics of supernovae will benefit from this discussion.
Does seem backwards, doesn't it. Perhaps the mechanism of the supernova releases neutrinos before the visible explosion (implosion?) occurs?berkeman said:Sorry for the question, but why will the Neutrinos arrive slightly before the light from the supernova?
The answer is in the text of the linked article.berkeman said:Sorry for the question, but why will the Neutrinos arrive slightly before the light from the supernova?
Photons interact strongly with the ions and free electrons in the outer layers of the star, but neutrinos don't.Although the shock wave can take many hours to make it through the outer layers of the star and to become visible, neutrinos come out right away, practically at the speed of light. More than 99% of the energy from a core-collapse supernova escapes not as light, but as neutrinos.
Neutrinos come at the start - the neutronization phase. Light, and for that matter, antineutrinos, come over a longer period as short-lived nuclei decay.berkeman said:why will the Neutrinos arrive slightly before the light from the supernova?