Adam Burrows & Joseph A. Insley
Next-Generation 3D Core-Collapse Supernova Simulations, 2023
2,800,000 Node-Hours
Core-collapse supernova explosions accompany the deaths of massive stars. These explosions give birth to neutron stars and black holes and eject solar masses of heavy elements. However, determining the mechanism of explosion has been a half-century journey of great complexity.
Nevertheless, due in part to recent massive suite of 3D simulations performed using the team’s code Fornax on HPC resources, the delayed neutrino-heating mechanism is emerging finally as a robust solution. However, models must not only be shown to explode but the asymptotic state of the blast must be reached to determine many of the observables. Hence, the key goals of this INCITE project are to determine such observables as the explosion energies and neutron star residual masses. To accomplish this, the team is simulating a collection of massive-star progenitor models to late times after bounce. The team plans to double this long-term effort because of code speed-ups and improvements. Hence, the overall scientific goal of simulating 3D models to late times has not changed but has in fact been augmented.
As a byproduct of this investigation, the researchers will generate libraries of supernova simulation data; neutrino, nucleosynthetic, and gravitational-wave signatures; and the systematics of supernova explosion energy, neutron star mass, pulsar kicks, and spins, and debris morphologies with progenitor. Hence, this INCITE project has been constructed to build on the team’s recent palpable progress, capture this pivotal moment in theoretical astrophysics when codes and resources are aligning and erect a standard model for core-collapse supernova explosions in the emerging era of the exascale.
Adam Burrows & Joseph A. Insley
Next-Generation 3D Core-Collapse Supernova, 2022
1,850,000 Node-Hours
The supernova explosions of massive stars, the so-called core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe), have been theoretically studied for more than half a century and observationally studied even longer. What has emerged in the modern era of CCSN theory is that the structure of the progenitor star, turbulence, and symmetry-breaking in the core after bounce, and the details of the neutrino-matter interaction are all key and determinative of the outcome of a collapse.
With the recent availability of leadership-class high-performance computing platforms with petaflop (soon to be exaflop) capability, and with sophisticated codes such as Fornax, researchers are now able to perform multiple simulations per year in the full 3D of nature to definitively explore the mechanism of this central phenomenon in theoretical astrophysics. With this new INCITE project, this team will conduct not only a full suite of 3D simulations for the spectrum of progenitor stars, but carry out these simulations for approximately five times the physical time possible with previous INCITE allocations all the way to the asymptotic state. As a byproduct of this investigation, the researchers will generate libraries of supernova simulation data; neutrino, nucleosynthetic, and gravitational-wave signatures; and the systematics of supernova explosion energy, neutron star mass, pulsar kicks and spins, and debris morphologies with progenitor. Hence, this INCITE project has been constructed to build on the team’s recent palpable progress, capture this pivotal moment in theoretical astrophysics when codes and resources are aligning, and erect a standard model for core-collapse supernova explosions in the emerging era of the exascale.
Adam Burrows & Joseph A. Insley
Towards a Definitive Model of Core-Collapse Supernova Explosions, 2021
2,000,000 Node-Hours
Core-collapse supernovae dramatically announce the death of massive stars and the birth of neutron stars. During this violent process, a combination of high-density nuclear physics, multi-dimensional hydrodynamics, radiation transport, and neutrino physics determines whether and how the star explodes.
This project explores the full physics of supernova explosions. Researchers are using the state-of-the-art, highly scalable, 3D radiation-hydrodynamics simulation code Fornax to determine the explosion energies, neutron star residual masses, and 56Ni and 44Ti yields—all as functions of progenitor mass.
A solution will benefit ongoing efforts of observers and instrument designers in the U.S. and around the world engaged in projects to determine the origin of the elements, measure gravitational waves, and interpret laboratory nuclear reaction rate measurements in light of stellar nucleosynthesis.
Comments:
"The visual rendering of our numerical supernova simulations is the only way to truly capture what is going on in the systems we are studying. As a consequence, graphics and animation are essential features of our scientific exploration, without which we would be partially blind to our own results. It is also the best way to communicate our science to the broader public. Doing this artfully, vividly, and with due diligence, we are at the same time paying homage to the natural synergies between art and the pursuit of Nature's secrets."
- Adam Burrows, Full Professor of Astrophysical Sciences at Princeton University, is the Director of the Princeton Planets and Life Certificate Program, and was recently on the Board of Trustees of the Aspen Center for Physics