SN 2003dh , one of the most luminous supernovae ever recorded , and the one with the highest measured velocities , accompanied gamma-ray burst 030329 .
Its rapid rise to maximum and equally rapid decline pose problems for any spherically symmetric model .
We model the supernova here as a very energetic , polar explosion that left the equatorial portions of the star almost intact .
The total progenitor mass was much greater than the mass of high-velocity ejecta , and the total mass of { { \mathrm { } } } { { \mathrm { { } ^ { 56 } } } } { \mathrm { Ni } } synthesized was about 0.5 solar masses .
Such asymmetries and nickel masses are expected in the collapsar model .
A “ composite two-dimensional ” model is calculated that agrees well with the characteristics of the observed light curve .
The mass of { { \mathrm { } } } { { \mathrm { { } ^ { 56 } } } } { \mathrm { Ni } } 
required for this light curve is 0.55 { \mathrm { M } _ { \odot } } and the total explosion energy , 26 { { \times } { { 10 ^ { 51 } } { \mathrm { erg } } } } .