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| Paper: |
Multidimensional Simulations of Thermonuclear Supernovae from the First Stars |
| Volume: |
453, Advances in Computational Astrophysics: Methods, Tools, and Outcome |
| Page: |
115 |
| Authors: |
Chen, K. J.; Heger, A.; Almgren, A. |
| Abstract: |
Theoretical models suggest that the first stars in the universe could have been very massive, with typical
masses ≥ 100 M☉ . Many of them might have died as energetic thermonuclear
explosions known as pair-instability supernovae (PSNe). We present multidimensional
numerical simulations of PSNe with the new radiation-hydrodynamics code CASTRO.
Our models capture all explosive burning and follow the explosion until the shock breaks
out from the stellar surface. We find that fluid instabilities driven by oxygen and helium
burning arise at the upper and lower boundaries of the oxygen shell ∼ 20 – 100 sec
after the explosion begins. Later, when the shock reaches the hydrogen envelope a
strong reverse shock forms that rapidly develops additional Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities.
In red supergiant progenitors, the amplitudes of these instabilities are sufficient to mix the
supernova's ejecta and alter its observational signature. Our results provide useful
predictions for the detection of PSNe by forthcoming telescopes. |
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