Abstract

I will review the properties of a variety of Supernovae, focussing on the determination of their properties and those of the progenitor stars from the theoretical simulation of observational data. In particular, I will address the properties of Type Ia Supernovae, the determination of which is essential for reliable cosmological studied, and those of the stripped-envelope SNe (Ib/c) which are sometimes seen in connection with Gamma-Ray Bursts and X-ray Flashes and provide an insight into the inner workings of the collapse of the core, the birth of a compact remnant and the possible engine which is thereby created. Finally, I will briefly touch on the new evidence which has been gathered for the existence of other avenues to stellar explosion.

Biography

Paolo A. Mazzali, astronomer in Padova and professor in Pisa,Italy is a
world specialist of supernova explosions.
His explosion models of Supernovae Ia, Ib/c, II and hypernovae
associated with Gamma Ray Bursts, (the most violent astrophysical
events observed in the Universe)
are widely used by observers to compare with data,
and published in Science and Nature.