An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
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The → bolometric luminosity of a → supernova corresponding to the highest brightness in its → light curve. The peak luminosity occurs after the → supernova explosion; it is directly linked to the amount of radioactive ⁵⁶Ni produced in the explosion and can be used to test various explosion models. Following → Arnett's rule, one can derive the ⁵⁶Ni mass from the peak luminosity of a → Type Ia supernova.

→ peak; → luminosity.