The Nobel Prize in Physics 2002

 

The Nobel Prize in Physics 2002
       
 

The Supernova 1987A
Photo: The Anglo-Australian Observatory
 

What is a supernova?
When the fusion reactions in a massive star end, it collapses and throws off its outer layers in a giant explosion. In just a few seconds, huge amounts of energy – about 100 times the energy generated by our sun during its lifetime – are released. Gravitation compresses the stellar core, producing a neutron star or – if the star is sufficiently massive – a black hole. Protons in the stellar core are transformed into neutrons, a process which also generates neutrinos. Some of these were detected by Kamiokande.
       
 

Contents:
| Introduction | Neutrino Astronomy | Elusive particles captured in cleaning fluid | Kamiokande captured neutrinos in water | What is a supernova? | What makes the sun shine? | A new view of the universe | X-ray Astronomy | How does an X-ray telescope work? | A violent universe | What happens next? | Further reading | Credits |

Addition to the Nobel Poster: Questions and Answers related to the Prize 
  Web Adapted Version of the Nobel Poster from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences

To cite this section
MLA style: The Nobel Prize in Physics 2002. NobelPrize.org. Nobel Prize Outreach 2026. Sun. 9 Aug 2026. <https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/2002/9632-the-nobel-prize-in-physics-2002-2002-5/>

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