Three-dimensional Hydrodynamic Simulations of Supernova Ejecta with a Central Energy Source

Abstract We present the results of three-dimensional special relativistic hydrodynamic simulations of supernova ejecta with a powerful central energy source. We assume a spherical supernova ejecta freely expanding with the initial kinetic energy of 1051 erg. We performed two simulations with different total injected energies of 1051 and 1052 erg to see how the total injected energy affects the subsequent evolution of the supernova ejecta. When the injected energy greatly exceeds the initial kinetic energy of the supernova ejecta, the hot bubble produced by the additional energy injection overwhelms and penetrates the whole supernova ejecta, resulting in a clumpy density structure. For smaller injected energies, on the other hand, the energy deposition stops before the hot bubble breakout occurs, leaving the outer envelope well stratified. This qualitative difference may indicate that central-engine-powered supernovae could be observed as two different populations, such as supernovae with and without broad-line spectral features, depending on the amount of total injected energy with respect to the initial kinetic energy.