arXiv subjects

Friedrich-Karl Thielemann

Publications and source records attributed to Friedrich-Karl Thielemann.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

PUSHing Core-Collapse Supernovae to Explosions in Spherical Symmetry III: Nucleosynthesis Yields

In a previously presented proof-of-principle study, we established a parametrized spherically symmetric explosion method (PUSH) that can reproduce many features of core-collapse supernovae for a wide range of pre-explosion models. The method is based on the neutrino-driven mechanism and follows collapse, bounce and explosion. There are two crucial aspects of our model for nucleosynthesis predictions. First, the mass cut and explosion energy emerge simultaneously from the simulation (determining, for each stellar model, the amount of Fe-group ejecta). Second, the interactions between neutrinos and matter are included consistently (setting the electron fraction of the innermost ejecta). In the present paper, we use the successful explosion models from Ebinger et al. (2018) which include two sets of pre-explosion models at solar metallicity, with combined masses between 10.8 and 120 M$_{\odot}$. We perform systematic nucleosynthesis studies and predict detailed isotopic yields. The resulting $^{56}$Ni ejecta are in overall agreement with observationally derived values from normal core-collapse supernovae. The Fe-group yields are also in agreement with derived abundances for metal-poor star HD84937. We also present a comparison of our results with observational trends in alpha element to iron ratios.

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arXiv2018

Explosive Nucleosynthesis: What we learned and what we still do not understand

This review touches on historical aspects, going back to the early days of nuclear astrophysics, initiated by B$^2$FH and Cameron, discusses (i) the required nuclear input from reaction rates and decay properties up to the nuclear equation of state, continues (ii) with the tools to perform nucleosynthesis calculations and (iii) early parametrized nucleosynthesis studies, before (iv) reliable stellar models became available for the late stages of stellar evolution. It passes then through (v) explosive environments from core-collapse supernovae to explosive events in binary systems (including type Ia supernovae and compact binary mergers), and finally (vi) discusses the role of all these nucleosynthesis production sites in the evolution of galaxies. The focus is put on the comparison of early ideas and present, very recent, understanding.

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arXiv2018

Equation of State Dependent Dynamics and Multimessenger Signals from Stellar-mass Black Hole Formation

We investigate axisymmetric black hole~(BH) formation and its gravitational wave (GW) and neutrino signals with self-consistent core-collapse supernova simulations of a non-rotating $40~M_\odot$ progenitor star using the isotropic diffusion source approximation for the neutrino transport and a modified gravitational potential for general relativistic effects. We consider four different neutron star (NS) equations of state~(EoS): LS220, SFHo, BHB$Λϕ$ and DD2, and study the impact of the EoS on BH formation dynamics and GW emission. We find that the BH formation time is sensitive to the EoS from 460 to $>1300$~ms and is delayed in multiple dimensions for $\sim~100-250$~ms due to the finite entropy effects. Depending on the EoS, our simulations show the possibility that shock revival can occur along with the collapse of the proto-neutron star~(PNS) to a BH. The gravitational waveforms contain four major features that are similar to previous studies but show extreme values: (1)~a low frequency signal ($\sim~300-500$~Hz) from core-bounce and prompt convection, (2)~a strong signal from the PNS g-mode oscillation among other features, (3)~a high frequency signal from the PNS inner-core convection, and (4)~signals from the standing accretion shock instability and convection. The peak frequency at the onset of BH formation reaches to $\sim~2.3$~kHz. The characteristic amplitude of a 10~kpc object at peak frequency is detectable but close to the noise threshold of the Advanced~LIGO and KAGRA, suggesting that the next generation gravitational wave detector will need to improve the sensitivity at the kHz domain to better observe stellar-mass BH formation from core-collapse supernovae or failed supernovae.

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arXiv2018

A full general relativistic neutrino radiation-hydrodynamics simulation of a collapsing very massive star and the formation of a black hole

We study the final fate of a very massive star by performing full general relativistic (GR), three-dimensional (3D) simulation with three-flavor multi-energy neutrino transport. Utilizing a 70 solar mass zero metallicity progenitor, we self-consistently follow the radiation-hydrodynamics from the onset of gravitational core-collapse until the second collapse of the proto-neutron star (PNS), leading to black hole (BH) formation. Our results show that the BH formation occurs at a post-bounce time of ~300 ms for the 70 Msun star. This is significantly earlier than those in the literature where lower mass progenitors were employed. At a few ~10 ms before BH formation, we find that the stalled bounce shock is revived by intense neutrino heating from the very hot PNS, which is aided by violent convection behind the shock. In the context of 3D-GR core-collapse modeling with multi-energy neutrino transport, our numerical results present the first evidence to validate a fallback BH formation scenario of the 70 Msun star.

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arXiv2017

The intermediate r-process in core-collapse supernovae driven by the magneto-rotational instability

We investigated r-process nucleosynthesis in magneto-rotational supernovae, based on a new explosion mechanism induced by the magneto-rotational instability. A series of axisymmetric magneto-hydrodynamical simulations with detailed microphysics including neutrino heating is performed, numerically resolving the magneto-rotational instability. Neutrino-heating dominated explosions, enhanced by magnetic fields, showed mildly neutron-rich ejecta producing nuclei up to $A \sim 130$ (i.e. the weak r-process), while explosion models with stronger magnetic fields reproduce a solar-like r-process pattern. More commonly seen abundance patterns in our models are in between the weak and regular r-process, producing lighter and intermediate mass nuclei. These {\it intermediate r-processes} exhibit a variety of abundance distributions, compatible with several abundance patterns in r-process-enhanced metal-poor stars. The amount of Eu ejecta $\sim 10^{-5} M_\odot$ in magnetically-driven jets agrees with predicted values in the chemical evolution of early galaxies. In contrast, neutrino-heating dominated explosions have a significant amount of Fe ($^{56}{\rm Ni}$) and Zn, comparable to regular supernovae and hypernovae, respectively. These results indicate magneto-rotational supernovae can produce a wide range of heavy nuclei from iron-group to r-process elements, depending on the explosion dynamics.

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arXiv2017

Multi-dimensional Core-Collapse Supernova Simulations with Neutrino Transport

We present multi-dimensional core-collapse supernova simulations using the Isotropic Diffusion Source Approximation (IDSA) for the neutrino transport and a modified potential for general relativity in two different supernova codes: FLASH and ELEPHANT. Due to the complexity of the core-collapse supernova explosion mechanism, simulations require not only high-performance computers and the exploitation of GPUs, but also sophisticated approximations to capture the essential microphysics. We demonstrate that the IDSA is an elegant and efficient neutrino radiation transfer scheme, which is portable to multiple hydrodynamics codes and fast enough to investigate long-term evolutions in two and three dimensions. Simulations with a 40 solar mass progenitor are presented in both FLASH (1D and 2D) and ELEPHANT (3D) as an extreme test condition. It is found that the black hole formation time is delayed in multiple dimensions and we argue that the strong standing accretion shock instability before black hole formation will lead to strong gravitational waves.

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arXiv2017

PUSHing Core-Collapse Supernovae to Explosions in Spherical Symmetry: Nucleosynthesis Yields

Core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe) are the extremely energetic deaths of massive stars. They play a vital role in the synthesis and dissemination of many heavy elements in the universe. In the past, CCSN nucleosynthesis calculations have relied on artificial explosion methods that do not adequately capture the physics of the innermost layers of the star. The PUSH method, calibrated against SN1987A, utilizes the energy of heavy-flavor neutrinos emitted by the proto-neutron star (PNS) to trigger parametrized explosions. This makes it possible to follow the consistent evolution of the PNS and to ensure a more accurate treatment of the electron fraction of the ejecta. Here, we present the Iron group nucleosynthesis results for core-collapse supernovae, exploded with PUSH, for two different progenitor series. Comparisons of the calculated yields to observational metal-poor star data are also presented. Nucleosynthesis yields will be calculated for all elements and over a wide range of progenitor masses. These yields can be immensely useful for models of galactic chemical evolution.

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arXiv2016

Towards generating a new supernova equation of state: A systematic analysis of cold hybrid stars

The hadron-quark phase transition in core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe) has the potential to trigger explosions in otherwise nonexploding models. However, those hybrid supernova equations of state (EOS) shown to trigger an explosion do not support the observational 2 M$_\odot$ neutron star maximum mass constraint. In this work, we analyze cold hybrid stars by the means of a systematic parameter scan for the phase transition properties, with the aim to develop a new hybrid supernova EOS. The hadronic phase is described with the state-of-the-art supernova EOS HS(DD2), and quark matter by an EOS with a constant speed of sound (CSS) of $c_{QM}^2=1/3$. We find promising cases which meet the 2 M$_\odot$ criterion and are interesting for CCSN explosions. We show that the very simple CSS EOS is transferable into the well-known thermodynamic bag model, important for future application in CCSN simulations. In the second part, the occurrence of reconfinement and multiple phase transitions is discussed. In the last part, the influence of hyperons in our parameter scan is studied. Including hyperons no change in the general behavior is found, except for overall lower maximum masses. In both cases (with and without hyperons) we find that quark matter with $c_{QM}^2=1/3$ can increase the maximum mass only if reconfinement is suppressed or if quark matter is absolutely stable.

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arXiv2016

Hot third family of compact stars and the possibility of core-collapse supernova explosions

A phase transition to quark matter can lead to interesting phenomenological consequences in core-collapse supernovae, e.g., triggering an explosion in spherically symmetric models. However, until now this explosion mechanism was only shown to be working for equations of state that are in contradiction with recent pulsar mass measurements. Here, we identify that this explosion mechanism is related to the existence of a third family of compact stars. For the equations of state investigated, the third family is only pronounced in the hot, early stages of the protocompact star and absent or negligibly small at zero temperature and thus represents a novel kind of third family. This interesting behavior is a result of unusual thermal properties induced by the phase transition, e.g., characterized by a decrease of temperature with increasing density for isentropes, and can be related to a negative slope of the phase transition line in the temperature-pressure phase diagram.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2016

Explosion Dynamics of Parametrized Spherically Symmetric Core-Collapse Supernova Simulations

We report on a method, PUSH, for triggering core-collapse supernova (CCSN) explosions of massive stars in spherical symmetry. This method provides a framework to study many important aspects of core collapse supernovae: the effects of the shock passage through the star, explosive supernova nucleosynthesis and the progenitor-remnant connection. Here we give an overview of the method, compare the results to multi-dimensional simulations and investigate the effects of the progenitor and the equation of state on black hole formation.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2015

Two-Dimensional Core-Collapse Supernova Simulations with the Isotropic Diffusion Source Approximation for Neutrino Transport

The neutrino mechanism of core-collapse supernova is investigated via non-relativistic, two-dimensional (2D), neutrino radiation-hydrodynamic simulations. For the transport of electron flavor neutrinos, we use the interaction rates defined by Bruenn (1985) and the isotropic diffusion source approximation (IDSA) scheme, which decomposes the transported particles into trapped particle and streaming particle components. Heavy neutrinos are described by a leakage scheme. Unlike the "ray-by-ray" approach in some other multi-dimensional supernova models, we use cylindrical coordinates and solve the trapped particle component in multiple dimensions, improving the proto-neutron star resolution and the neutrino transport in angular and temporal directions. We provide an IDSA verification by performing 1D and 2D simulations with 15 and 20 $M_\odot$ progenitors from Woosley et al.~(2007) and discuss the difference of our IDSA results with those existing in the literature. Additionally, we perform Newtonian 1D and 2D simulations from prebounce core collapse to several hundred milliseconds postbounce with 11, 15, 21, and 27 $M_\odot$ progenitors from Woosley et al.~(2002) with the HS(DD2) equation of state. General relativistic effects are neglected. We obtain robust explosions with diagnostic energies $E_{\rm dig} \gtrsim 0.1- 0.5$~B for all considered 2D models within approximately $100-300$ milliseconds after bounce and find that explosions are mostly dominated by the neutrino-driven convection, although standing accretion shock instabilities are observed as well. We also find that the level of electron deleptonization during collapse dramatically affect the postbounce evolution, e.g.~the ignorance of neutrino-electron scattering during collapse will lead to a stronger explosion.

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arXiv2015

$s$-process production in rotating massive stars at solar and low metallicities

Rotation was shown to have a strong impact on the structure and light element nucleosynthesis in massive stars. In particular, models including rotation can reproduce the primary nitrogen observed in halo extremely metal-poor (EMP) stars. Additional exploratory models showed that rotation may enhance $s$-process production at low metallicity. Here we present a large grid of massive star models including rotation and a full $s$-process network to study the impact of rotation on the weak $s$-process. We explore the possibility of producing significant amounts of elements beyond the strontium peak, which is where the weak $s$-process usually stops. We used the Geneva stellar evolution code coupled to an enlarged reaction network with 737 nuclear species up to bismuth to calculate $15-40\,\text{M}_\odot$ models at four metallicities ($Z = 0.014,10^{-3}$, $10^{-5}$, and $10^{-7}$) from the main sequence up to the end of oxygen burning. We confirm that rotation-induced mixing between the convective H-shell and He-core enables an important production of primary $^{14}$N and $^{22}$Ne and $s$-process at low metallicity. At low metallicity, even though the production is still limited by the initial number of iron seeds, rotation enhances the $s$-process production, even for isotopes heavier than strontium, by increasing the neutron to seed ratio. The increase in this ratio is a direct consequence of the primary production of $^{22}$Ne. Despite nuclear uncertainties affecting the $s$-process production and stellar uncertainties affecting the rotation-induced mixing, our results show a robust production of $s$ process at low metallicity when rotation is taken into account. Considering models with a distribution of initial rotation rates enables to reproduce the observed large range of the [Sr/Ba] ratios in (carbon-enhanced and normal) EMP stars.

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arXiv2015

Nucleosynthesis in the Ejecta of Neutron Star Mergers

Heavy elements like gold, platinum or uranium are produced in the r-process, which needs neutron-rich and explosive environments. Neutron star mergers are a promising candidate for an r-process site. They exhibit three different channels for matter ejection fulfilling these conditions: dynamic ejecta due to tidal torques, neutrino-driven winds and evaporating matter from the accretion disk. We present a first study of the integrated nucleosynthesis for a neutrino-driven wind from a neutron star merger with a hyper-massive neutron star. Trajectories from a recent hydrodynamical simulation are divided into four different angle regions and post-processed with a reaction network. We find that the electron fraction varies around $Y_e \approx 0.1 - 0.4$, but its distribution differs for every angle of ejection. Hence, the wind ejecta do not undergo a robust r-process, but rather possess distinct nucleosynthesis yields depending on the angle range. Compared to the dynamic ejecta, a smaller amount of neutron-rich matter gets unbound, but the production of lighter heavy elements with $A \lesssim 130$ in the neutrino-driven wind can complement the strong r-process of the dynamic ejecta.

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arXiv2015

Neutrino-driven winds in the aftermath of a neutron star merger: nucleosynthesis and electromagnetic transients

We present a comprehensive nucleosynthesis study of the neutrino-driven wind in the aftermath of a binary neutron star merger. Our focus is the initial remnant phase when a massive central neutron star is present. Using tracers from a recent hydrodynamical simulation, we determine total masses and integrated abundances to characterize the composition of unbound matter. We find that the nucleosynthetic yields depend sensitively on both the life time of the massive neutron star and the polar angle. Matter in excess of up to $9 \cdot 10^{-3} M_\odot$ becomes unbound until $\sim 200~{\rm ms}$. Due to electron fractions of $Y_{\rm e} \approx 0.2 - 0.4$ mainly nuclei with mass numbers $A < 130$ are synthesized, complementing the yields from the earlier dynamic ejecta. Mixing scenarios with these two types of ejecta can explain the abundance pattern in r-process enriched metal-poor stars. Additionally, we calculate heating rates for the decay of the freshly produced radioactive isotopes. The resulting light curve peaks in the blue band after about $4~{\rm h}$. Furthermore, high opacities due to heavy r-process nuclei in the dynamic ejecta lead to a second peak in the infrared after $3-4~{\rm d}$.

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arXiv2015

The r-process nucleosynthesis in the various jet-like explosions of magnetorotational core-collapse supernovae

The r-process nucleosynthesis in core-collapse supernovae (CC-SNe) is studied, with a focus on the explosion scenario induced by rotation and strong magnetic fields. Nucleosynthesis calculations are conducted based on magneto-hydrodynamical explosion models with a wide range of parameters for initial rotation and magnetic fields. The explosion models are classified in two different types: i.e., prompt-magnetic-jet and delayed-magnetic-jet, for which the magnetic fields of proto-neutron stars (PNSs) during collapse and the core-bounce are strong and comparatively moderate, respectively. Following the hydrodynamical trajectories of each explosion model, we confirmed that r-processes successfully occur in the prompt-magnetic-jets, which produce heavy nuclei including actinides. On the other hand, the r-process in the delayed-magnetic-jet is suppressed, which synthesizes only nuclei up to the second peak ($A \sim 130$). Thus, the r-process in the delayed-magnetic-jets could explain only "weak r-process" patterns observed in metal-poor stars rather than the "main r-process", represented by the solar abundances. Our results imply that core-collapse supernovae are possible astronomical sources of heavy r-process elements if their magnetic fields are strong enough, while weaker magnetic explosions may produce "weak r-process" patterns ($A \lesssim 130$). We show the potential importance and necessity of magneto-rotational supernovae for explaining the galactic chemical evolution, as well as abundances of r-process enhanced metal-poor stars. We also examine the effects of the remaining uncertainties in the nature of PNSs due to weak interactions that determine the final neutron-richness of ejecta. Additionally, we briefly discuss radioactive isotope yields in primary jets (e.g., $^{56}$Ni), with relation to several optical observation of SNe and relevant high-energy astronomical phenomena.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2015

The Role of Fission in Neutron Star Mergers and its Impact on the r-Process Peaks

Comparing observational abundance features with nucleosynthesis predictions of stellar evolution or explosion simulations can scrutinize two aspects: (a) the conditions in the astrophysical production site and (b) the quality of the nuclear physics input utilized. We test the abundance features of r-process nucleosynthesis calculations for the dynamical ejecta of neutron star merger simulations based on three different nuclear mass models: The Finite Range Droplet Model (FRDM), the (quenched version of the) Extended Thomas Fermi Model with Strutinsky Integral (ETFSI-Q), and the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) mass model. We make use of corresponding fission barrier heights and compare the impact of four different fission fragment distribution models on the final r-process abundance distribution. In particular, we explore the abundance distribution in the second r-process peak and the rare-earth sub-peak as a function of mass models and fission fragment distributions, as well as the origin of a shift in the third r-process peak position. The latter has been noticed in a number of merger nucleosynthesis predictions. We show that the shift occurs during the r-process freeze-out when neutron captures and β-decays compete and an (n,γ)-(γ,n) equilibrium is not maintained anymore. During this phase neutrons originate mainly from fission of material above A = 240. We also investigate the role of β-decay half-lives from recent theoretical advances, which lead either to a smaller amount of fissioning nuclei during freeze-out or a faster (and thus earlier) release of fission neutrons, which can (partially) prevent this shift and has an impact on the second and rare-earth peak as well.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2012

Nucleosynthesis in core-collapse supernova explosions triggered by a quark-hadron phase transition

We explore heavy element nucleosynthesis in the explosion of massive stars which are triggered by a quark-hadron phase transition during the early post bounce phase of core-collapse supernovae. The present study is based on general relativistic radiation hydrodynamics simulations with three-flavor Boltzmann neutrino transport in spherical symmetry, which utilize a quark-hadron hybrid equation of state based on the MIT bag model for strange quark matter. The quark-hadron phase transition inside the stellar core forms a shock wave propagating towards the surface of the proto-neutron star. The shock wave results in an explosion and ejects neutron-rich matter which is piled up or accreting on the proto-neutron star. Later, during the cooling phase, the proto-neutron star develops a proton-rich neutrino-driven wind. We present a detailed analysis of the nucleosynthesis outcome in both neutron-rich and proton-rich ejecta and compare our integrated nucleosynthesis with observations of metal poor stars.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2012

Magnetorotationally driven Supernovae as the origin of early galaxy $r$-process elements?

We examine magnetorotationally driven supernovae as sources of $r$-process elements in the early Galaxy. On the basis of thermodynamic histories of tracer particles from a three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamical core-collapse supernova model with approximated neutrino transport, we perform nucleosynthesis calculations with and without considering the effects of neutrino absorption reactions on the electron fraction ($Y_{e}$) during post-processing. We find that the peak distribution of $Y_{e}$ in the ejecta is shifted from $\sim0.15$ to $\sim0.17$ and broadened toward higher $Y_{e}$ due to neutrino absorption. Nevertheless, in both cases the second and third peaks of the solar $r$-process element distribution can be well reproduced. The rare progenitor configuration that was used here, characterized by a high rotation rate and a large magnetic field necessary for the formation of bipolar jets, could naturally provide a site for the strong $r$-process in agreement with observations of the early galactic chemical evolution.

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