1,991 research outputs found
The Los Alamos Supernova Light Curve Project: Computational Methods
We have entered the era of explosive transient astronomy, in which upcoming
real-time surveys like the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), the Palomar
Transient Factory (PTF) and Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response
System (Pan-STARRS) will detect supernovae in unprecedented numbers. Future
telescopes such as the James Webb Space Telescope may discover supernovae from
the earliest stars in the universe and reveal their masses. The observational
signatures of these astrophysical transients are the key to unveiling their
central engines, the environments in which they occur, and to what precision
they will pinpoint cosmic acceleration and the nature of dark energy. We
present a new method for modeling supernova light curves and spectra with the
radiation hydrodynamics code RAGE coupled with detailed monochromatic opacities
in the SPECTRUM code. We include a suite of tests that demonstrate how the
improved physics is indispensable to modeling shock breakout and light curves.Comment: 18 pages, 19 figures, published in ApJ Supplement
Gamma-Ray Lines from Asymmetric Supernovae
We present 3-dimensional SPH simulations of supernova explosions from 100
seconds to 1 year after core-bounce. By extending our modelling efforts to a
3-dimensional hydrodynamics treatment, we are able to investigate the effects
of explosion asymmetries on mixing and gamma-ray line emergence in supernovae.
A series of initial explosion conditions are implemented, including jet-like
and equatorial asymmetries of varying degree. For comparison, symmetric
explosion models are also calculated. A series of time slices from the
explosion evolution are further analyzed using a 3-dimensional Monte Carlo
gamma-ray transport code. The emergent hard X- and gamma-ray spectra are
calculated as a function of both viewing angle and time, including trends in
the gamma-ray line profiles. We find significant differences in the velocity
distribution of radioactive nickel between the symmetric and asymmetric
explosion models. The effects of this spatial distribution change are reflected
in the overall high energy spectrum, as well as in the individual gamma-ray
line profiles.Comment: 32 pages, 14 figures, LAUR-02-6114, http://qso.lanl.gov/~clf
"Clumping Asymmetry" section revise
Mass Limits For Black Hole Formation
We present a series of two-dimensional core-collapse supernova simulations
for a range of progenitor masses and different input physics. These models
predict a range of supernova energies and compact remnant masses. In
particular, we study two mechanisms for black hole formation: prompt collapse
and delayed collapse due to fallback. For massive progenitors above 20 solar
masses, after a hydrodynamic time for the helium core (a few minutes to a few
hours), fallback drives the compact object beyond the maximum neutron star mass
causing it to collapse into a black hole. With the current accuracy of the
models, progenitors more massive than 40 solar masses form black holes directly
with no supernova explosion (if rotating, these black holes may be the
progenitors of gamma-ray bursts). We calculate the mass distribution of black
holes formed, and compare these predictions to the observations, which
represent a small biased subset of the black hole population. Uncertainties in
these estimates are discussed.Comment: 15 pages total, 4 figures, Modifications in Conclusion, accepted by
Ap
Merger of white dwarf-neutron star binaries: Prelude to hydrodynamic simulations in general relativity
White dwarf-neutron star binaries generate detectable gravitational
radiation. We construct Newtonian equilibrium models of corotational white
dwarf-neutron star (WDNS) binaries in circular orbit and find that these models
terminate at the Roche limit. At this point the binary will undergo either
stable mass transfer (SMT) and evolve on a secular time scale, or unstable mass
transfer (UMT), which results in the tidal disruption of the WD. The path a
given binary will follow depends primarily on its mass ratio. We analyze the
fate of known WDNS binaries and use population synthesis results to estimate
the number of LISA-resolved galactic binaries that will undergo either SMT or
UMT. We model the quasistationary SMT epoch by solving a set of simple ordinary
differential equations and compute the corresponding gravitational waveforms.
Finally, we discuss in general terms the possible fate of binaries that undergo
UMT and construct approximate Newtonian equilibrium configurations of merged
WDNS remnants. We use these configurations to assess plausible outcomes of our
future, fully relativistic simulations of these systems. If sufficient WD
debris lands on the NS, the remnant may collapse, whereby the gravitational
waves from the inspiral, merger, and collapse phases will sweep from LISA
through LIGO frequency bands. If the debris forms a disk about the NS, it may
fragment and form planets.Comment: 28 pages, 25 figures, 6 table
Double Neutron Star Systems and Natal Neutron Star Kicks
We study the four double neutron star systems found in the Galactic disk in
terms of the orbital characteristics of their immediate progenitors and the
natal kicks imparted to neutron stars. Analysis of the effect of the second
supernova explosion on the orbital dynamics, combined with recent results from
simulations of rapid accretion onto neutron stars lead us to conclude that the
observed systems could not have been formed had the explosion been symmetric.
Their formation becomes possible if kicks are imparted to the radio-pulsar
companions at birth. We identify the constraints imposed on the immediate
progenitors of the observed double neutron stars and calculate the ranges
within which their binary characteristics (orbital separations and masses of
the exploding stars) are restricted. We also study the dependence of these
limits on the magnitude of the kick velocity and the time elapsed since the
second explosion. For each of the double neutron stars, we derive a minimum
kick magnitude required for their formation, and for the two systems in close
orbits we find it to exceed 200km/s. Lower limits are also set to the
center-of-mass velocities of double neutron stars, and we find them to be
consistent with the current proper motion observations.Comment: 25 pages, 6 figs (9 parts), 4 tables, AASTeX, Accepted in Ap
Core-Collapse Simulations of Rotating Stars
We present the results from a series of two-dimensional core-collapse
simulations using a rotating progenitor star. We find that the convection in
these simulations is less vigorous because a) rotation weakens the core bounce
which seeds the neutrino-driven convection and b) the angular momentum profile
in the rotating core stabilizes against convection. The limited convection
leads to explosions which occur later and are weaker than the explosions
produced from the collapse of non-rotating cores. However, because the
convection is constrained to the polar regions, when the explosion occurs, it
is stronger along the polar axis. This asymmetric explosion can explain the
polarization measurements of core-collapse supernovae. These asymmetries also
provide a natural mechanism to mix the products of nucleosynthesis out into the
helium and hydrogen layers of the star. We also discuss the role the collapse
of these rotating stars play on the generation of magnetic fields and neutron
star kicks. Given a range of progenitor rotation periods, we predict a range of
supernova energies for the same progenitor mass. The critical mass for black
hole formation also depends upon the rotation speed of the progenitor.Comment: 16 pages text + 13 figures, submitted to Ap
Influence of the r-mode instability on hypercritically accreting neutron stars
We have investigated an influence of the r-mode instability on
hypercritically accreting () neutron stars in
close binary systems during their common envelope phases based on the scenario
proposed by Bethe et al. \shortcite{bethe-brown-lee}. On the one hand neutron
stars are heated by the accreted matter at the stellar surface, but on the
other hand they are also cooled down by the neutrino radiation. At the same
time, the accreted matter transports its angular momentum and mass to the star.
We have studied the evolution of the stellar mass, temperature and rotational
frequency.
The gravitational-wave-driven instability of the r-mode oscillation strongly
suppresses spinning-up of the star, whose final rotational frequency is well
below the mass-shedding limit, typically as small as 10% of that of the
mass-shedding state. On a very short time scale the rotational frequency tends
to approach a certain constant value and saturates there as far as the amount
of the accreted mass does not exceed a certain limit to collapse to a black
hole. This implies that the similar mechanism of gravitational radiation as the
so-called Wagoner star may work in this process. The star is spun up by
accretion until the angular momentum loss by gravitational radiation balances
the accretion torque. The time-integrated dimensionless strain of the radiated
gravitational wave may be large enough to be detectable by the gravitational
wave detectors such as LIGO II.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure
Spectra and Light Curves of Failed Supernovae
Astronomers have proposed a number of mechanisms to produce supernova
explosions. Although many of these mechanisms are now not considered primary
engines behind supernovae, they do produce transients that will be observed by
upcoming ground-based surveys and NASA satellites. Here we present the first
radiation-hydrodynamics calculations of the spectra and light curves from three
of these "failed" supernovae: supernovae with considerable fallback, accretion
induced collapse of white dwarfs, and energetic helium flashes (also known as
type .Ia supernovae).Comment: 33 pages, 14 figure
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