Unraveling a Mystery at the Center of Supernova 1987A

Supernova 1987A, first observed in 1987 in a nearby galaxy to the Milky Way, exhibits clusters of hydrogen gas arranged in a ring-like structure along its equator. Despite decades of research, an understanding of why these gas clusters exist has evaded scientists. However, a new finding offers a possible solution to this mystery.

According to Michael Wadas, a postdoctoral scholar research associate in the department of mechanical and civil engineering at Caltech and one of the study's co-authors, there's an intriguing similarity between the mechanism responsible for breaking up airplane wakes and the formation of these gas clusters around the supernova.

Wadas, a graduate student in mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan at the time of this finding, collaborated with Eric Johnsen (MS '02, PhD '08), a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan, and Aaron Towne (MS '10, PhD '16), an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan.

Both Johnsen and Towne are alumni of Caltech and the research group led by Tim Colonius, Frank and Ora Lee Marble Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Medical Engineering; Cecil and Sally Drinkward Leadership Chair, Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering; Executive Officer for Mechanical and Civil Engineering.

Read the full news story from the University of Michigan here.