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Abstract:

Core-collapse supernovae are the final explosions of massive stars with initial masses greater than ~10 solar masses. Through their feedback to the surrounding medium, they play a crucial role in driving the dynamical and chemical evolution of galaxies. However, many questions about the evolution of massive stars leading up to gravitational collapse remain unanswered. The development of unbiased optical transient surveys over the past couple of decades has enabled the detection of electromagnetic signals from these explosions within just a few to several tens of hours after the event. When combined with analytical and numerical modeling of their early light curves and spectra, these early signals offer valuable insights into otherwise hidden activity in massive stars during their final stages before core collapse. One key finding is the complex circumstellar environment of supernovae, shaped by mass-loss processes in their progenitors during the final centuries of evolution. In this talk, I will review recent observational advances in the study of core-collapse supernovae, particularly during their early phases, and present my efforts to address key open questions using numerical simulations.