Observational Constraints of Stellar Collapse: Diagnostic Probes of   Nature's Extreme Matter Experiment
  Supernovae are Nature's high-energy, high density laboratory experiments, reaching densities in excess of nuclear densities and temperatures above 10MeV. Astronomers have built up a suite of diagnostics to study these supernovae. If we can utilize these diagnostics, and tie them together with a theoretical understanding of supernova physics, we can use these cosmic explosions to study the nature of matter at these extreme densities and temperatures. Capitalizing on these diagnostics will require understanding a wide range of additional physics. Here we review the diagnostics and the physics needed to use them to learn about the supernova engine, and ultimate nuclear physics. 
C.L. Fryer, W. Even, B.W. Grefenstette, T.-W. Wong
astro-ph.HE