Supernovae Simulation

research contact: Tony Mezzacappa

Core collapse supernovae are responsible for producing and dispersing many of the elements in the periodic table, such as carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen, without which life would not be possible. ORNL's astrophysics program is focused on the study of stellar explosions, i.e., novae, Type Ia supernovae, and core collapse supernovae, and nucleosynthesis. The future in supernova modeling will see increasingly sophisticated multidimensional simulations with ever improving physics, particularly multidimensional neutrino (radiation) transport. The ultimate goal is to ascertain the key ingredients that constitute the core collapse supernova mechanism.

Supernova 1987A confirmed the basic neutrino heating paradigm.

Shown in this Hubble Space Telescope image are the famous rings of supernova 1987A in the Large Magellanic Cloud. This famous core collapse supernovae has provided vast quantities of data which has helped to discern supernova models. The first terrestrial detection of supernova neutrinos occurred with this supernova, which confirmed the basic neutrino heating paradigm for powering these catastrophic events.

The evolution of convection within the proto-neutron star

Shown are five snapshots in the evolution of convection within the proto-neutron star, which is forming at the center of the explosion and radiating the neutrinos that power the explosion at the staggering rate of 10 billion, billion, billion, billion, billion Watts! Proto-neutron star convection may aid in boosting the luminosity of this central, intense "neutrino bulb."

The evolution of "neutrino-driven" convection behind the supernova shock wave

Shown are four snapshots in the evolution of "neutrino-driven" convection behind the supernova shock wave, which may aid the neutrino heating by the proto-neutron star in powering the supernova.