What marks the end of the life cycle of a red supergiant?

The end of the life cycle of a red supergiant is characterized by an explosion into a supernova. Red supergiants are massive stars that have exhausted their nuclear fuel, leading to significant changes in their internal structure. As the core of the star collapses under the force of gravity, it causes the outer layers to be expelled into space dramatically. This eruption is what we observe as a supernova, a brilliant flash that outshines entire galaxies for a brief period.

In this process, the energy released is immense, and it can lead to the formation of either a neutron star or a black hole, depending on the mass of the remaining core after the explosion. The supernova event is also crucial for distributing heavy elements into the universe, contributing to the cosmic abundance of elements that form new stars and planets.

Understanding this final stage of a red supergiant’s life cycle is essential as it connects to the broader processes of stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis, which play a critical role in the evolution of galaxies.