arXiv subjects

Eli Livne

Publications and source records attributed to Eli Livne.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2010

Results From Core-Collapse Simulations with Multi-Dimensional, Multi-Angle Neutrino Transport

We present new results from the only 2D multi-group, multi-angle calculations of core-collapse supernova evolution. The first set of results from these calculations was published in Ott et al. (2008). We have followed a nonrotating and a rapidly rotating 20 solar mass model for ~400 ms after bounce. We show that the radiation fields vary much less with angle than the matter quantities in the region of net neutrino heating. This obtains because most neutrinos are emitted from inner radiative regions and because the specific intensity is an integral over sources from many angles at depth. The latter effect can only be captured by multi-angle transport. We then compute the phase relationship between dipolar oscillations in the shock radius and in matter and radiation quantities throughout the postshock region. We demonstrate a connection between variations in neutrino flux and the hydrodynamical shock oscillations, and use a variant of the Rayleigh test to estimate the detectability of these neutrino fluctuations in IceCube and Super-K. Neglecting flavor oscillations, fluctuations in our nonrotating model would be detectable to ~10 kpc in IceCube, and a detailed power spectrum could be measured out to ~5 kpc. These distances are considerably lower in our rapidly rotating model or with significant flavor oscillations. Finally, we measure the impact of rapid rotation on detectable neutrino signals. Our rapidly rotating model has strong, species-dependent asymmetries in both its peak neutrino flux and its light curves. The peak flux and decline rate show pole-equator ratios of up to ~3 and ~2, respectively.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2010

Helium Shell Detonations on Low Mass White Dwarfs as a Possible Explanation for SN 2005E

Recently several type Ib supernovae (SNe; with the prototypical SN 2005E) have been shown to have atypical properties. These SNe are faint (absolute peak magnitude of ~ -15) and fast SNe that show unique composition. They are inferred to have low ejecta mass (a few tenths of a solar mass) and to be highly enriched in calcium, but poor in silicon elements and nickel. These SNe were therefore suggested to belong to a new class of calcium-rich faint SNe explosions. Their properties were proposed to be the result of helium detonations that may occur on helium accreting white dwarfs. In this paper we theoretically study the scenario of helium detonations, and focus on the results of detonations in accreted helium layers on low mass carbon-oxygen (CO) cores. We present new results from one dimensional simulations of such explosions, including their light curves and spectra. We find that when the density of the helium layer is low enough the helium detonation produces large amounts of intermediate elements, such as calcium and titanium, together with a large amount of unburnt helium. Our results suggest that the properties of calcium-rich faint SNe could indeed be consistent with the helium-detonation scenario on small CO cores. Above a certain density (larger CO cores) the detonation leaves mainly 56Ni and unburnt helium, and the predicted spectrum will unlikely fit the unique features of this class of SNe. Finally, none of our studied models reproduces the bright, fast evolving light curves of another type of peculiar SNe suggested to originate in helium detonations (SNe 1885A, 1939B and 2002bj).

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2010

Navier-Stokes hydrodynamics of thermal collapse in a freely cooling granular gas

We employ Navier-Stokes granular hydrodynamics to investigate the long-time behavior of clustering instability in a freely cooling dilute granular gas in two dimensions. We find that, in circular containers, the homogeneous cooling state (HCS) of the gas loses its stability via a sub-critical pitchfork bifurcation. There are no time-independent solutions for the gas density in the supercritical region, and we present analytical and numerical evidence that the gas develops thermal collapse unarrested by heat diffusion. To get more insight, we switch to a simpler geometry of a narrow-sector-shaped container. Here the HCS loses its stability via a transcritical bifurcation. For some initial conditions a time-independent inhomogeneous density profile sets in, qualitatively similar to that previously found in a narrow-channel geometry. For other initial conditions, however, the dilute gas develops thermal collapse unarrested by heat diffusion. We determine the dynamic scalings of the flow close to collapse analytically and verify them in hydrodynamic simulations. The results of this work imply that, in dimension higher than one, Navier-Stokes hydrodynamics of a dilute granular gas is prone to finite-time density blowups. This provides a natural explanation to the formation of densely packed clusters of particles in a variety of initially dilute granular flows.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2010

Determining the main-sequence mass of Type II supernova progenitors

We present radiation-hydrodynamics simulations of core-collapse supernova (SN) explosions, artificially generated by driving a piston at the base of the envelope of a rotating or non-rotating red-supergiant progenitor star. We search for trends in ejecta kinematics in the resulting Type II-Plateau (II-P) SN, exploring dependencies with explosion energy and pre-SN stellar-evolution model. We recover the trivial result that larger explosion energies yield larger ejecta velocities in a given progenitor. However, we emphasise that for a given explosion energy, the increasing helium-core mass with main-sequence mass of such Type II-P SN progenitors leads to ejection of core-embedded oxygen-rich material at larger velocities. We find that the photospheric velocity at 15d after shock breakout is a good and simple indicator of the explosion energy in our selected set of pre-SN models. This measurement, combined with the width of the nebular-phase OI6303-6363A line, can be used to place an upper-limit on the progenitor main-sequence mass. Using the results from our simulations, we find that the current, but remarkably scant, late-time spectra of Type II-P SNe support progenitor main-sequence masses inferior to ~20Msun and thus, corroborate the inferences based on the direct, but difficult, progenitor identification in pre-explosion images. The narrow width of OI6303-6363A in Type II-P SNe with nebular spectra does not support high-mass progenitors in the range 25-30Msun. Combined with quantitative spectroscopic modelling, such diagnostics offer a means to constrain the main-sequence mass of the progenitor, the mass fraction of the core ejected, and thus, the mass of the compact remnant formed.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2010

Shock-heating of stellar envelopes: A possible common mechanism at the origin of explosions and eruptions in massive stars

Observations of transient phenomena in the Universe reveal a spectrum of mass-ejection properties associated with massive stars, covering from Type II/Ib/Ic core-collapse supernovae (SNe) to giant eruptions of Luminous Blue Variables (LBV) and optical transients. Here, we hypothesize that a fraction of these phenomena may have an explosive origin, the distinguishing ingredient being the ratio of the prompt energy release E_dep to the envelope binding energy E_binding. Using one-dimensional one-group radiation hydrodynamics and a set of 10-25Msun, massive-star models, we explore the dynamical response of a stellar envelope subject to a strong, sudden, and deeply-rooted energy release. Following energy deposition, a shock systematically forms, crosses the progenitor envelope on a day timescale, and breaks-out with a signal of hour-to-days duration and a 10^5-10^11 Lsun luminosity. For E_dep > E_binding, full envelope ejection results with a SN-like bolometric luminosity and kinetic energy, modulations being commensurate to the energy deposited and echoing the diversity of Type II-Plateau SNe. For E_dep ~ E_binding, partial envelope ejection results with a small expansion speed, and a more modest but year-long luminosity plateau, reminiscent of LBV eruptions or so-called SN impostors. For E_dep < E_binding, we obtain a "puffed-up" star, secularly relaxing back to thermal equilibrium. In parallel with gravitational collapse and Type II SNe, we argue that the thermonuclear combustion of merely a few 0.01Msun of C/O could power a wide range of explosions/eruptions in loosely-bound massive stars, as those in the 8-12Msun range, or in more massive ones owing to their proximity to the Eddington limit and/or critical rotation.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2008

Neutrino signatures and the neutrino-driven wind in Binary Neutron Star Mergers

We present VULCAN/2D multi-group flux-limited-diffusion radiation hydrodynamics simulations of binary neutron star (BNS) mergers, using the Shen equation of state, covering ~100 ms, and starting from azimuthal-averaged 2D slices obtained from 3D SPH simulations of Rosswog & Price for 1.4 Msun (baryonic) neutron stars with no initial spins, co-rotating spins, and counter-rotating spins. Snapshots are post-processed at 10 ms intervals with a multi-angle neutrino-transport solver. We find polar-enhanced neutrino luminosities, dominated by $\barν_e$ and ``$ν_μ$'' neutrinos at peak, although $ν_e$ emission may be stronger at late times. We obtain typical peak neutrino energies for $ν_e$, $\barν_e$, and ``$ν_μ$'' of ~12, ~16, and ~22 MeV. The super-massive neutron star (SMNS) formed from the merger has a cooling timescale of ~1 s. Charge-current neutrino reactions lead to the formation of a thermally-driven bipolar wind with <$\dot{M}$> ~10$^{-3}$ Msun/s, baryon-loading the polar regions, and preventing any production of a GRB prior to black-hole formation. The large budget of rotational free energy suggests magneto-rotational effects could produce a much greater polar mass loss. We estimate that ~10$^{-4}$ Msun of material with electron fraction in the range 0.1-0.2 become unbound during this SMNS phase as a result of neutrino heating. We present a new formalism to compute the $ν_i\barν_i$ annihilation rate based on moments of the neutrino specific intensity computed with our multi-angle solver. Cumulative annihilation rates, which decay as $t^{-1.8}$, decrease over our 100 ms window from a few 10$^{50}$ to ~10$^{49}$ erg/s, equivalent to a few 10$^{54}$ to ~10$^{53}$ $e^-e^+$ pairs per second.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2008

2D Multi-Angle, Multi-Group Neutrino Radiation-Hydrodynamic Simulations of Postbounce Supernova Cores

We perform axisymmetric (2D) multi-angle, multi-group neutrino radiation-hydrodynamic calculations of the postbounce phase of core-collapse supernovae using a genuinely 2D discrete-ordinate (S_n) method. We follow the long-term postbounce evolution of the cores of one nonrotating and one rapidly-rotating 20-solar-mass stellar model for ~400 milliseconds from 160 ms to ~550 ms after bounce. We present a multi-D analysis of the multi-angle neutrino radiation fields and compare in detail with counterpart simulations carried out in the 2D multi-group flux-limited diffusion (MGFLD) approximation to neutrino transport. We find that 2D multi-angle transport is superior in capturing the global and local radiation-field variations associated with rotation-induced and SASI-induced aspherical hydrodynamic configurations. In the rotating model, multi-angle transport predicts much larger asymptotic neutrino flux asymmetries with pole to equator ratios of up to ~2.5, while MGFLD tends to sphericize the radiation fields already in the optically semi-transparent postshock regions. Along the poles, the multi-angle calculation predicts a dramatic enhancement of the neutrino heating by up to a factor of 3, which alters the postbounce evolution and results in greater polar shock radii and an earlier onset of the initially rotationally weakened SASI. In the nonrotating model, differences between multi-angle and MGFLD calculations remain small at early times when the postshock region does not depart significantly from spherical symmetry. At later times, however, the growing SASI leads to large-scale asymmetries and the multi-angle calculation predicts up to 30% higher average integral neutrino energy deposition rates than MGFLD.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

The Proto-neutron Star Phase of the Collapsar Model and the Route to Long-soft Gamma-ray Bursts and Hypernovae

Recent stellar evolutionary calculations of low-metallicity massive fast-rotating main-sequence stars yield iron cores at collapse endowed with high angular momentum. It is thought that high angular momentum and black hole formation are critical ingredients of the collapsar model of long-soft gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Here, we present 2D multi-group, flux-limited-diffusion MHD simulations of the collapse, bounce, and immediate post-bounce phases of a 35-Msun collapsar-candidate model of Woosley & Heger. We find that, provided the magneto-rotational instability (MRI) operates in the differentially-rotating surface layers of the millisecond-period neutron star, a magnetically-driven explosion ensues during the proto-neutron star phase, in the form of a baryon-loaded non-relativistic jet, and that a black hole, central to the collapsar model, does not form. Paradoxically, and although much uncertainty surrounds stellar mass loss, angular momentum transport, magnetic fields, and the MRI, current models of chemically homogeneous evolution at low metallicity yield massive stars with iron cores that may have too much angular momentum to avoid a magnetically-driven, hypernova-like, explosion in the immediate post-bounce phase. We surmise that fast rotation in the iron core may inhibit, rather than enable, collapsar formation, which requires a large angular momentum not in the core but above it. Variations in the angular momentum distribution of massive stars at core collapse might explain both the diversity of Type Ic supernovae/hypernovae and their possible association with a GRB. A corollary might be that, rather than the progenitor mass, the angular momentum distribution, through its effect on magnetic field amplification, distinguishes these outcomes.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Magnetically-driven explosions of rapidly-rotating white dwarfs following Accretion-Induced Collapse

We present 2D multi-group flux-limited diffusion magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulations of the Accretion-Induced Collapse (AIC) of a rapidly-rotating white dwarf. We focus on the dynamical role of MHD processes after the formation of a millisecond-period protoneutron star. We find that including magnetic fields and stresses can lead to a powerful explosion with an energy of a few Bethe, rather than a weak one of at most 0.1 Bethe, with an associated ejecta mass of ~0.1Msun, instead of a few 0.001Msun. The core is spun down by ~30% within 500ms after bounce, and the rotational energy extracted from the core is channeled into magnetic energy that generates a strong magnetically-driven wind, rather than a weak neutrino-driven wind. Baryon loading of the ejecta, while this wind prevails, precludes it from becoming relativistic. This suggests that a GRB is not expected to emerge from such AICs during the early protoneutron star phase, except in the unlikely event that the massive white dwarf has sufficient mass to lead to black hole formation. In addition, we predict both negligible 56Ni-production (that should result in an optically-dark, adiabatically-cooled explosion) and the ejection of 0.1Msun of material with an electron fraction of 0.1-0.2. Such pollution by neutron-rich nuclei puts strong constraints on the possible rate of such AICs. Moreover, being free from ``fallback,'' such highly-magnetized millisecond-period protoneutron stars may later become magnetars, and the magnetically-driven winds may later transition to Poynting-flux-dominated, relativistic winds, eventually detectable as GRBs at cosmological distances. However, the low expected event rate of AICs will constrain them to be, at best, a small subset of GRB and/or magnetar progenitors.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Formation of density singularities in ideal hydrodynamics of freely cooling inelastic gases: a family of exact solutions

We employ granular hydrodynamics to investigate a paradigmatic problem of clustering of particles in a freely cooling dilute granular gas. We consider large-scale hydrodynamic motions where the viscosity and heat conduction can be neglected, and one arrives at the equations of ideal gas dynamics with an additional term describing bulk energy losses due to inelastic collisions. We employ Lagrangian coordinates and derive a broad family of exact non-stationary analytical solutions that depend only on one spatial coordinate. These solutions exhibit a new type of singularity, where the gas density blows up in a finite time when starting from smooth initial conditions. The density blowups signal formation of close-packed clusters of particles. As the density blow-up time $t_c$ is approached, the maximum density exhibits a power law $\sim (t_c-t)^{-2}$. The velocity gradient blows up as $\sim - (t_c-t)^{-1}$ while the velocity itself remains continuous and develops a cusp (rather than a shock discontinuity) at the singularity. The gas temperature vanishes at the singularity, and the singularity follows the isobaric scenario: the gas pressure remains finite and approximately uniform in space and constant in time close to the singularity. An additional exact solution shows that the density blowup, of the same type, may coexist with an "ordinary" shock, at which the hydrodynamic fields are discontinuous but finite. We confirm stability of the exact solutions with respect to small one-dimensional perturbations by solving the ideal hydrodynamic equations numerically. Furthermore, numerical solutions show that the local features of the density blowup hold universally, independently of details of the initial and boundary conditions.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2007

Formation and evolution of density singularities in hydrodynamics of inelastic gases

We use ideal hydrodynamics to investigate clustering in a gas of inelastically colliding spheres. The hydrodynamic equations exhibit a new type of finite-time density blowup, where the gas pressure remains finite. The density blowups signal formation of close-packed clusters. The blowup dynamics are universal and describable by exact analytic solutions continuable beyond the blowup time. These solutions show that dilute hydrodynamic equations yield a powerful effective description of a granular gas flow with close-packed clusters, described as finite-mass point-like singularities of the density. This description is similar in spirit to the description of shocks in ordinary ideal gas dynamics.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2007

Simulations of Magnetically-Driven Supernova and Hypernova Explosions in the Context of Rapid Rotation

We present here the first 2D rotating, multi-group, radiation magnetohydrodynamics (RMHD) simulations of supernova core collapse, bounce, and explosion. In the context of rapid rotation, we focus on the dynamical effects of magnetic stresses and the creation and propagation of MHD jets. We find that a quasi-steady state can be quickly established after bounce, during which a well-collimated MHD jet is maintained by continuous pumping of power from the differentially rotating core. If the initial spin period of the progenitor core is $\sles$ 2 seconds, the free energy reservoir in the secularly evolving protoneutron star is adequate to power a supernova explosion, and may be enough for a hypernova. The jets are well collimated by the infalling material and magnetic hoop stresses, and maintain a small opening angle. We see evidence of sausage instabilities in the emerging jet stream. Neutrino heating is sub-dominant in the rapidly rotating models we explore, but can contribute 10$-$25% to the final explosion energy. Our simulations suggest that even in the case of modest or slow rotation, a supernova explosion might be followed by a secondary, weak MHD jet explosion, which, because of its weakness may to date have gone unnoticed in supernova debris. Furthermore, we suggest that the generation of a non-relativistic MHD precursor jet during the early protoneutron star/supernova phase is implicit in both the collapsar and "millisecond magnetar" models of GRBs. The multi-D, multi-group, rapidly rotating RMHD simulations we describe here are a start along the path towards more realistic simulations of the possible role of magnetic fields in some of Nature's most dramatic events.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

A Two-Dimensional MagnetoHydrodynamics Scheme for General Unstructured Grids

We report a new finite-difference scheme for two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulations, with and without rotation, in unstructured grids with quadrilateral cells. The new scheme is implemented within the code VULCAN/2D, which already includes radiation-hydrodynamics in various approximations and can be used with arbitrarily moving meshes (ALE). The MHD scheme, which consists of cell-centered magnetic field variables, preserves the nodal finite difference representation of $div(\bB)$ by construction, and therefore any initially divergence-free field remains divergence-free through the simulation. In this paper, we describe the new scheme in detail and present comparisons of VULCAN/2D results with those of the code ZEUS/2D for several one-dimensional and two-dimensional test problems. The code now enables two-dimensional simulations of the collapse and explosion of the rotating, magnetic cores of massive stars. Moreover, it can be used to simulate the very wide variety of astrophysical problems for which multi-D radiation-magnetohydrodynamics (RMHD) is relevant.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Multi-Dimensional Explorations in Supernova Theory

In this paper, we bring together various of our published and unpublished findings from our recent 2D multi-group, flux-limited radiation hydrodynamic simulations of the collapse and explosion of the cores of massive stars. Aided by 2D and 3D graphical renditions, we motivate the acoustic mechanism of core-collapse supernova explosions and explain, as best we currently can, the phases and phenomena that attend this mechanism. Two major foci of our presentation are the outer shock instability and the inner core g-mode oscillations. The former sets the stage for the latter, which damp by the generation of sound. This sound propagates outward to energize the explosion and is relevant only if the core has not exploded earlier by some other means. Hence, it is a more delayed mechanism than the traditional neutrino mechanism that has been studied for the last twenty years since it was championed by Bethe and Wilson. We discuss protoneutron star convection, accretion-induced-collapse, gravitational wave emissions, pulsar kicks, the angular anisotropy of the neutrino emissions, a subset of numerical issues, and a new code we are designing that should supercede our current supernova code VULCAN/2D. Whatever ideas last from this current generation of numerical results, and whatever the eventual mechanism(s), we conclude that the breaking of spherical symmetry will survive as one of the crucial keys to the supernova puzzle.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

A New Mechanism for Gravitational Wave Emission in Core-Collapse Supernovae

We present a new theory for the gravitational wave signatures of core-collapse supernovae. Previous studies identified axisymmetric rotating core collapse, core bounce, postbounce convection, and anisotropic neutrino emission as the primary processes and phases for the radiation of gravitational waves. Our results, which are based on axisymmetric, Newtonian radiation-hydrodynamics supernova simulations (Burrows et al. 2006), indicate that the dominant emission process of gravitational waves in core-collapse supernovae may be the oscillations of the protoneutron star core. The oscillations are predominantly of g-mode character, are excited hundreds of milliseconds after bounce, and typically last for several hundred milliseconds. Our results suggest that even nonrotating core-collapse supernovae should be visible to current LIGO-class detectors throughout the Galaxy, and depending on progenitor structure, possibly out to Megaparsec distances.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Multi-Dimensional Simulations of the Accretion-Induced Collapse of White Dwarfs to Neutron Stars

We present 2.5D radiation-hydrodynamics simulations of the accretion-induced collapse (AIC) of white dwarfs, starting from 2D rotational equilibrium configurations of a 1.46-Msun and a 1.92-Msun model. Electron capture leads to the collapse to nuclear densities of these cores within a few tens of milliseconds. The shock generated at bounce moves slowly, but steadily, outwards. Within 50-100ms, the stalled shock breaks out of the white dwarf along the poles. The blast is followed by a neutrino-driven wind that develops within the white dwarf, in a cone of ~40deg opening angle about the poles, with a mass loss rate of 5-8 x 10^{-3} Msun/yr. The ejecta have an entropy on the order of 20-50 k_B/baryon, and an electron fraction distribution that is bimodal. By the end of the simulations, at >600ms after bounce, the explosion energy has reached 3-4 x 10^{49}erg and the total ejecta mass has reached a few times 0.001Msun. We estimate the asymptotic explosion energies to be lower than 10^{50}erg, significantly lower than those inferred for standard core collapse. The AIC of white dwarfs thus represents one instance where a neutrino mechanism leads undoubtedly to a successful, albeit weak, explosion. We document in detail the numerous effects of the fast rotation of the progenitors: The neutron stars are aspherical; the ``nu_mu'' and anti-nu_e neutrino luminosities are reduced compared to the nu_e neutrino luminosity; the deleptonized region has a butterfly shape; the neutrino flux and electron fraction depend strongly upon latitude (a la von Zeipel); and a quasi-Keplerian 0.1-0.5-Msun accretion disk is formed.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

The Spin Periods and Rotational Profiles of Neutron Stars at Birth

We present results from an extensive set of one- and two-dimensional radiation-hydrodynamic simulations of the supernova core collapse, bounce, and postbounce phases, and focus on the protoneutron star (PNS) spin periods and rotational profiles as a function of initial iron core angular velocity, degree of differential rotation, and progenitor mass. For the models considered, we find a roughly linear mapping between initial iron core rotation rate and PNS spin. The results indicate that the magnitude of the precollapse iron core angular velocities is the single most important factor in determining the PNS spin. Differences in progenitor mass and degree of differential rotation lead only to small variations in the PNS rotational period and profile. Based on our calculated PNS spins, at ~ 200-300 milliseconds after bounce, and assuming angular momentum conservation, we estimate final neutron star rotation periods. We find periods of one millisecond and shorter for initial central iron core periods of below ~ 10 s. This is appreciably shorter than what previous studies have predicted and is in disagreement with current observational data from pulsar astronomy. After considering possible spindown mechanisms that could lead to longer periods we conclude that there is no mechanism that can robustly spin down a neutron star from ~ 1 ms periods to the "injection" periods of tens to hundreds of milliseconds observed for young pulsars. Our results indicate that, given current knowledge of the limitations of neutron star spindown mechanisms, precollapse iron cores must rotate with periods around 50-100 seconds to form neutron stars with periods generically near those inferred for the radio pulsar population.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

A New Mechanism for Core-Collapse Supernova Explosions

We present a new mechanism for core-collapse supernova explosions that relies upon acoustic power generated in the inner core as the driver. In our simulation using an 11-solar-mass progenitor, a strong advective-acoustic oscillation a la Foglizzo with a period of ~25-30 milliseconds (ms) arises ~200 ms after bounce. Its growth saturates due to the generation of secondary shocks, and kinks in the resulting shock structure funnel and regulate subsequent accretion onto the inner core. However, this instability is not the primary agent of explosion. Rather, it is the acoustic power generated in the inner turbulent region and most importantly by the excitation and sonic damping of core g-mode oscillations. An l=1 mode with a period of ~3 ms grows to be prominent around ~500 ms after bounce. The accreting protoneutron star is a self-excited oscillator. The associated acoustic power seen in our 11-solar-mass simulation is sufficient to drive the explosion. The angular distribution of the emitted sound is fundamentally aspherical. The sound pulses radiated from the core steepen into shock waves that merge as they propagate into the outer mantle and deposit their energy and momentum with high efficiency. The core oscillation acts like a transducer to convert accretion energy into sound. An advantage of the acoustic mechanism is that acoustic power does not abate until accretion subsides, so that it is available as long as it may be needed to explode the star. [abridged]

astro-ph↗