5 research outputs found
Two-dimensional, Time-dependent, Multi-group, Multi-angle Radiation Hydrodynamics Test Simulation in the Core-Collapse Supernova Context
We have developed a time-dependent, multi-energy-group, and multi-angle
(S) Boltzmann transport scheme for radiation hydrodynamics simulations, in
one and two spatial dimensions. The implicit transport is coupled to both 1D
(spherically-symmetric) and 2D (axially-symmetric) versions of the explicit
Newtonian hydrodynamics code VULCAN. The 2D variant, VULCAN/2D, can be operated
in general structured or unstructured grids and though the code can address
many problems in astrophysics it was constructed specifically to study the
core-collapse supernova problem. Furthermore, VULCAN/2D can simulate the
radiation/hydrodynamic evolution of differentially rotating bodies. We
summarize the equations solved and methods incorporated into the algorithm and
present results of a time-dependent 2D test calculation. A more complete
description of the algorithm is postponed to another paper. We highlight a 2D
test run that follows for 22 milliseconds the immediate post-bounce evolution
of a collapsed core. We present the relationship between the anisotropies of
the overturning matter field and the distribution of the corresponding flux
vectors, as a function of energy group. This is the first 2D multi-group,
multi-angle, time-dependent radiation/hydro calculation ever performed in core
collapse studies. Though the transport module of the code is not gray and does
not use flux limiters (however, there is a flux-limited variant of VULCAN/2D),
it still does not include energy redistribution and most velocity-dependent
terms.Comment: 19 pages, plus 13 figures in JPEG format. Submitted to the
Astrophysical Journa
The Magnetorotational Instability in Core Collapse Supernova Explosions
We investigate the action of the magnetorotational instability (MRI) in the
context of iron-core collapse. Exponential growth of the field on the rotation
time scale by the MRI will dominate the linear growth process of field line
"wrapping" with the same characteristic time. We examine a variety of initial
rotation states, with solid body rotation or a gradient in rotational velocity,
that correspond to models in the literature. A relatively modest value of the
initial rotation, a period of ~ 10 s, will give a very rapidly rotating PNS and
hence strong differential rotation with respect to the infalling matter. We
assume conservation of angular momentum on spherical shells. Results are
discussed for two examples of saturation fields, a fiducial field that
corresponds to Alfven velocity = rotational velocity and a field that
corresponds to the maximum growing mode of the MRI. Modest initial rotation
velocities of the iron core result in sub-Keplerian rotation and a
sub-equipartition magnetic field that nevertheless produce substantial MHD
luminosity and hoop stresses: saturation fields of order 10^{15} - 10^{16} G
develop within 300 msec after bounce with an associated MHD luminosity of about
10^{52} erg/s. Bi-polar flows driven by this MHD power can affect or even cause
the explosions associated with core-collapse supernovae.Comment: 42 pages, including 15 figures. Accepted for publication in ApJ. We
have revised to include an improved treatment of the convection, and some
figures have been update