New Two-Dimensional Models of Supernova Explosions by the Neutrino-Heating Mechanism: Evidence for Different Instability Regimes in Collapsing Stellar Cores

The neutrino-driven explosion mechanism for core-collapse supernovae in its modern flavor relies on the additional support of hydrodynamical instabilities in achieving shock revival. Two possible candidates, convection and the so-called standing accretion shock instability (SASI), have been proposed for this role. In this paper, we discuss new successful simulations of supernova explosions that shed light on the relative importance of these two instabilities. While convection has so far been observed to grow first in self-consistent hydrodynamical models with multi-group neutrino transport, we here present the first such simulation in which the SASI grows faster while the development of convection is initially inhibited. We illustrate the features of this SASI-dominated regime using an explosion model of a 27 solar mass progenitor, which is contrasted with a convectively-dominated model of an 8.1 solar mass progenitor with subsolar metallicity, whose early post-bounce behavior is more in line with previous 11.2 and 15 solar mass explosion models. We analyze the conditions discriminating between the two different regimes, showing that a high mass-accretion rate and a short advection time-scale are conducive for strong SASI activity. We also briefly discuss some important factors for capturing the SASI-driven regime, such as general relativity, the progenitor structure, a nuclear equation of state leading to a compact proto-neutron star, and the neutrino treatment. Finally, we evaluate possible implications of our findings for 2D and 3D supernova simulations. Our results show that a better understanding of the SASI and convection in the non-linear regime is required.Comment: 12 pages, 13 figures; revised version accepted for publication in Ap

Predictions of the pseudo-complex theory of Gravity for EHT observations- II. Theory and predictions

We present a resum\'e on the modified theory of gravity, called pseudo-complex General Relativity (pc-GR). It is the second in a series of papers, where the first one (Boller et al. 2019, referred to as paper I) discussed the observational consequences of pc-GR. In this paper, we concentrate on the underlying theory. PC-GR involves an algebraic extension of the standard theory of GR and it depends on two phenomenological parameters. An element included in pc-GR that is not present in standard GR is the energy-momentum tensor corresponding to an anisotropic ideal fluid, which we call dark energy. The two parameters are related to the coupling of mass to the dark energy and its fall-off as a function of r. The consequences and predictions of this theory will be discussed in the context of the observational results of the Even Horizon Telescope, expected soon. Our main result is that due to the accumulation of dark energy near a large mass, the modified theory predicts a dark ring followed by a bright ring in the emission profile of the accretion disc. We also discuss the light ring in the equatorial plane.Comment: 2 figure

Light curve analysis of ordinary type IIP supernovae based on neutrino-driven explosion simulations in three dimensions

Type II-plateau supernovae (SNe IIP) are the most numerous subclass of core-collapse SNe originating from massive stars. In the framework of the neutrino-driven explosion mechanism, we study the SN outburst properties for a red supergiant progenitor model and compare the corresponding light curves with observations of the ordinary Type IIP SN 1999em. Three-dimensional (3D) simulations of (parametrically triggered) neutrino-driven explosions are performed with the (explicit, finite-volume, Eulerian, multifluid hydrodynamics) code PROMETHEUS, using a presupernova model of a 15 Msun star as initial data. At approaching homologous expansion, the hydrodynamical and composition variables of the 3D models are mapped to a spherically symmetric configuration, and the simulations are continued with the (implicit, Lagrangian radiation-hydrodynamics) code CRAB to follow the blast-wave evolution during the SN outburst. Our 3D neutrino-driven explosion model with an explosion energy of about 0.5x10^51 erg produces Ni-56 in rough agreement with the amount deduced from fitting the radioactively powered light-curve tail of SN 1999em. The considered presupernova model, 3D explosion simulations, and light-curve calculations can explain the basic observational features of SN 1999em, except for those connected to the presupernova structure of the outer stellar layers. Our 3D simulations show that the distribution of Ni-rich matter in velocity space is asymmetric with a strong dipole component that is consistent with the observations of SN 1999em. The monotonic luminosity decline from the plateau to the radioactive tail in ordinary SNe IIP is a manifestation of the intense turbulent mixing at the He/H composition interface.Comment: 16 pages, 13 figures, 2 tables; added figure, discussions, and references; accepted for publication in Ap

The Reactor Antineutrino Anomaly

Recently new reactor antineutrino spectra have been provided for 235U, 239Pu, 241Pu and 238U, increasing the mean flux by about 3 percent. To good approximation, this reevaluation applies to all reactor neutrino experiments. The synthesis of published experiments at reactor-detector distances <100 m leads to a ratio of observed event rate to predicted rate of 0.976(0.024). With our new flux evaluation, this ratio shifts to 0.943(0.023), leading to a deviation from unity at 98.6% C.L. which we call the reactor antineutrino anomaly. The compatibility of our results with the existence of a fourth non-standard neutrino state driving neutrino oscillations at short distances is discussed. The combined analysis of reactor data, gallium solar neutrino calibration experiments, and MiniBooNE-neutrino data disfavors the no-oscillation hypothesis at 99.8% C.L. The oscillation parameters are such that |Delta m_{new}^2|>1.5 eV^2 (95%) and sin^2(2\theta_{new})=0.14(0.08) (95%). Constraints on the theta13 neutrino mixing angle are revised.Comment: 19 pages, 15 figures ; v2/3 include typos corrected ; v4 final version: add 5 Rovno & 2 Savannah River results + add additional constistency checks + add a discussion on the inverse beta decay cross section normlizatio

Effects of Inelastic Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering on Supernova Dynamics and Radiated Neutrino Spectra

Based on the shell model for Gamow-Teller and the Random Phase Approximation for forbidden transitions, we have calculated reaction rates for inelastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (INNS) under supernova (SN) conditions, assuming a matter composition given by Nuclear Statistical Equilibrium. The rates have been incorporated into state-of-the-art stellar core-collapse simulations with detailed energy-dependent neutrino transport. While no significant effect on the SN dynamics is observed, INNS increases the neutrino opacities noticeably and strongly reduces the high-energy tail of the neutrino spectrum emitted in the neutrino burst at shock breakout. Relatedly the expected event rates for the observation of such neutrinos by earthbound detectors are reduced by up to about 60%.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, 1 tabl

Predictions of the pseudo-complex theory of Gravity for EHT observations: I. Observational tests

A modified theory of gravity, avoiding singularities in the standard theory of gravitation, has been developed by Hess & Greiner, known as the pseudo-complex theory of gravitation. The pc-GR theory shows remarkable observational differences with respect to standard GR. The intensity profiles are significantly different between both theories, which is a rare phenomenon in astrophysics. This will allow robust tests of both theories using Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) observations of the Galactic Center. We also predict the time evolution of orbiting matter. In this paper we summarize the observational tests we have developed to date. The theory is described in the second paper of this series (Hess et al. 2019, referred to as paper II hereafter).Comment: 4 figures, accepted by MNRA

SASI Activity in Three-Dimensional Neutrino-Hydrodynamics Simulations of Supernova Cores

The relevance of the standing accretion shock instability (SASI) compared to neutrino-driven convection in three-dimensional (3D) supernova-core environments is still highly controversial. Studying a 27 Msun progenitor, we demonstrate, for the first time, that violent SASI activity can develop in 3D simulations with detailed neutrino transport despite the presence of convection. This result was obtained with the Prometheus-Vertex code with the same sophisticated neutrino treatment so far used only in 1D and 2D models. While buoyant plumes initially determine the nonradial mass motions in the postshock layer, bipolar shock sloshing with growing amplitude sets in during a phase of shock retraction and turns into a violent spiral mode whose growth is only quenched when the infall of the Si/SiO interface leads to strong shock expansion in response to a dramatic decrease of the mass accretion rate. In the phase of large-amplitude SASI sloshing and spiral motions, the postshock layer exhibits nonradial deformation dominated by the lowest-order spherical harmonics (l=1, m=0,-1,+1) in distinct contrast to the higher multipole structures associated with neutrino-driven convection. We find that the SASI amplitudes, shock asymmetry, and nonradial kinetic energy in 3D can exceed those of the corresponding 2D case during extended periods of the evolution. We also perform parametrized 3D simulations of a 25 Msun progenitor, using a simplified, gray neutrino transport scheme, an axis-free Yin-Yang grid, and different amplitudes of random seed perturbations. They confirm the importance of the SASI for another progenitor, its independence of the choice of spherical grid, and its preferred growth for fast accretion flows connected to small shock radii and compact proto-neutron stars as previously found in 2D setups.Comment: 17 pages, 10 figures, accepted by The Astrophysical Journa

Theory of Core-Collapse Supernovae

Advances in our understanding and the modeling of stellar core-collapse and supernova explosions over the past 15 years are reviewed, concentrating on the evolution of hydrodynamical simulations, the description of weak interactions and nuclear equation of state effects, and new insights into the nucleosynthesis occurring in the early phases of the explosion, in particular the neutrino-p process. The latter is enabled by the proton-richness of the early ejecta, which was discovered because of significant progress has been made in the treatment of neutrino transport and weak interactions. This progress has led to a new generation of sophisticated Newtonian and relativistic hydrodynamics simulations in spherical symmetry. Based on these, it is now clear that the prompt bounce-shock mechanism is not the driver of supernova explosions, and that the delayed neutrino-heating mechanism can produce explosions without the aid of multi-dimensional processes only if the progenitor star has an ONeMg core inside a very dilute He-core, i.e., has a mass in the 8--10 solar mass range. Hydrodynamic instabilities of various kinds have indeed been recognized to occur in the supernova core and to be of potential importance for the explosion. Neutrino-driven explosions, however, have been seen in two-dimensional simulations with sophisticated neutrino transport so far only when the star has a small iron core and low density in the surrounding shells as being found in stars near 10--11 solar masses. The explosion mechanism of more massive progenitors is still a puzzle. It might involve effects of three-dimensional hydrodynamics or might point to the relevance of rapid rotation and magnetohydrodynamics, or to still incompletely explored properties of neutrinos and the high-density equation of state.Comment: 49 pages, 20 figures; submitted to the Bethe Centennial Volume of Physics Report