Colloquia

The subject of supernovae is a unique combination of many different branches of physics and there are different ways in which we can probe the inner workings of these objects. Beyond examining light curves from the explosion, one can study nucleosynthesis products and neutrino spectra. The discovery of a whole new type of supernova, one which creates a gamma ray burst, has created a new frontier in research on neutrinos and element synthesis. I will discuss the role neutrinos play in determining whether the heaviest elements, such as uranium and thorium, are produced in these environments.