arXiv subjects

W. Hillebrandt

Publications and source records attributed to W. Hillebrandt.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

arXiv2006

Anomalous extinction behaviour towards the Type Ia SN 2003cg

We present optical and near-infrared photometry and spectroscopy of the Type Ia SN 2003cg, which exploded in the nearby galaxy NGC 3169. The observations cover a period between -8.5 and +414 days post-maximum. SN 2003cg is a normal but highly-reddened Type Ia event. Its B magnitude at maximum B_max = 15.94+/-0.04 and Delta m_15(B)_obs = 1.12+/-0.04 (Delta m_15(B)_intrinsic = 1.25+/-0.05). Allowing R_v to become a free parameter within the Cardelli et al. (1989) extinction law, simultaneous matches to a range of colour curves of normal SNe Ia yielded E(B-V) = 1.33+/-0.11, and R_v = 1.80+/-0.19. While the value obtained for R_v is small, such values have been invoked in the past, and may imply a grain size which is small compared with the average value for the local ISM.

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arXiv2006

Theoretical light curves for deflagration models of Type Ia supernova

We present synthetic bolometric and broad-band UBVRI light curves of SNe Ia, for four selected 3-D deflagration models of thermonuclear supernovae. The light curves are computed with the 1-D hydro code STELLA, which models (multi-group time-dependent) non-equilibrium radiative transfer inside SN ejecta. Angle-averaged results from 3-D hydrodynamical explosion simulations with the composition determined in a nucleosynthetic postprocessing step served as the input to the radiative transfer model. The predicted model UBV light curves do agree reasonably well with the observed ones for SNe Ia in the range of low to normal luminosities, although the underlying hydrodynamical explosion models produced only a modest amount of radioactive Ni56 and relatively low kinetic energy in the explosion. The evolution of predicted B and V fluxes in the model with a Ni56 mass of 0.42 M_sun follows the observed decline rate after the maximum very well, although the behavior of fluxes in other filters somewhat deviates from observations, and the bolometric decline rate is a bit slow. Using our models, we check the validity of Arnett's rule and the accuracy of the procedure for extracting the Ni56 mass from the observed light curves. We find that the comparison between theoretical light curves and observations provides a useful tool to validate SN Ia models. The steps necessary to improve the agreement between theory and observations are set out.

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arXiv2006

A localised subgrid scale model for fluid dynamical simulations in astrophysics I: Theory and numerical tests

We present a one-equation subgrid scale model that evolves the turbulence energy corresponding to unresolved velocity fluctuations in large eddy simulations. The model is derived in the context of the Germano consistent decomposition of the hydrodynamical equations. The eddy-viscosity closure for the rate of energy transfer from resolved toward subgrid scales is localised by means of a dynamical procedure for the computation of the closure parameter. Therefore, the subgrid scale model applies to arbitrary flow geometry and evolution. For the treatment of microscopic viscous dissipation a semi-statistical approach is used, and the gradient-diffusion hypothesis is adopted for turbulent transport. A priori tests of the localised eddy-viscosity closure and the gradient-diffusion closure are made by analysing data from direct numerical simulations. As an a posteriori testing case, the large eddy simulation of thermonuclear combustion in forced isotropic turbulence is discussed. We intend the formulation of the subgrid scale model in this paper as a basis for more advanced applications in numerical simulations of complex astrophysical phenomena involving turbulence.

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arXiv2006

A localised subgrid scale model for fluid dynamical simulations in astrophysics II: Application to type Ia supernovae

The dynamics of the explosive burning process is highly sensitive to the flame speed model in numerical simulations of type Ia supernovae. Based upon the hypothesis that the effective flame speed is determined by the unresolved turbulent velocity fluctuations, we employ a new subgrid scale model which includes a localised treatment of the energy transfer through the turbulence cascade in combination with semi-statistical closures for the dissipation and non-local transport of turbulence energy. In addition, subgrid scale buoyancy effects are included. In the limit of negligible energy transfer and transport, the dynamical model reduces to the Sharp-Wheeler relation. According to our findings, the Sharp-Wheeler relation is insuffcient to account for the complicated turbulent dynamics of flames in thermonuclear supernovae. The application of a co-moving grid technique enables us to achieve very high spatial resolution in the burning region. Turbulence is produced mostly at the flame surface and in the interior ash regions. Consequently, there is a pronounced anisotropy in the vicinity of the flame fronts. The localised subgrid scale model predicts significantly enhanced energy generation and less unburnt carbon and oxygen at low velocities compared to earlier simulations.

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arXiv2006

Explosions of O-Ne-Mg Cores, the Crab Supernova, and Subluminous Type II-P Supernovae

We present results of simulations of stellar collapse and explosions in spherical symmetry for progenitor stars in the 8-10 solar mass range with an O-Ne-Mg core. The simulations were continued until nearly one second after core bounce and were performed with the Prometheus/Vertex code with a variable Eddington factor solver for the neutrino transport, including a state-of-the-art treatment of neutrino-matter interactions. Particular effort was made to implement nuclear burning and electron capture rates with sufficient accuracy to ensure a smooth continuation, without transients, from the progenitor evolution to core collapse. Using two different nuclear equations of state (EoSs), a soft version of the Lattimer & Swesty EoS and the significantly stiffer Wolff & Hillebrandt EoS, we found no prompt explosions, but instead delayed explosions, powered by neutrino heating and the neutrino-driven baryonic wind which sets in about 200 ms after bounce. The models eject little nickel (< 0.015 solar masses), explode with an energy of about or slightly more than 10**50 erg, and leave behind neutron stars (NSs) with a baryonic mass near 1.36 solar masses. Different from previous models of such explosions, the ejecta during the first second have a proton-to-baryon ratio of Ye > 0.46, which suggests a chemical composition that is not in conflict with galactic abundances. No low-entropy matter with Ye << 0.5 is ejected. This excludes such explosions as sites of a low-entropy r-process. The low explosion energy and nucleosynthetic implications are compatible with the observed properties of the Crab supernova, and the small nickel mass supports the possibility that our models explain some subluminous Type II-P supernovae.

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arXiv2005

The ignition of thermonuclear flames in Type Ia supernovae

In the framework of the Chandrasekhar-mass deflagration model for Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia), a persisting free parameter is the initial morphology of the flame front, which is linked to the ignition process in the progenitor white dwarf. Previous analytical models indicate that the thermal runaway is driven by temperature perturbations (''bubbles'') that develop in the white dwarf's convective core. In order to probe the conditions at ignition (diameters, temperatures and evolutionary timescales), we have performed hydrodynamical 2D simulations of buoyant bubbles in white dwarf interiors. Our results show that fragmentation occurring during the bubble rise affects the outcome of the bubble evolution. Possible implications for the ignition process of SNe Ia are discussed.

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arXiv2005

Multi-spot ignition in type Ia supernova models

We present a systematic survey of the capabilities of type Ia supernova explosion models starting from a number of flame seeds distributed around the center of the white dwarf star. To this end we greatly improved the resolution of the numerical simulations in the initial stages. This novel numerical approach facilitates a detailed study of multi-spot ignition scenarios with up to hundreds of ignition sparks. Two-dimensional simulations are shown to be inappropriate to study the effects of initial flame configurations. Based on a set of three-dimensional models, we conclude that multi-spot ignition scenarios may improve type Ia supernova models towards better agreement with observations. The achievable effect reaches a maximum at a limited number of flame ignition kernels as shown by the numerical models and corroborated by a simple dimensional analysis.

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arXiv2005

Abundance stratification in Type Ia supernovae - I. The case of SN 2002bo

The abundance stratification in the ejecta of the normal Type Ia supernova 2002bo is derived by fitting a series of spectra obtained at close time intervals. A Monte Carlo code, modified to include abundance stratification, is used to compute synthetic spectra at 13 epochs in the photospheric phase, starting 13d before B maximum. A description of the abundance distribution above 7600 km/s is thus obtained. Abundances in deeper layers, down to zero velocity, are derived from models of two nebular-phase spectra. Elements synthesized in different stages of burning are significantly, but not completely, mixed in the ejecta. A total 56Ni mass of 0.52M_sun is derived. Evidence for intermediate-mass elements at high velocities (> 18 000 km/s) is found, most clearly in Si II 6355A, in Ca II H&K, and in the Ca II infrared triplet. Carbon lines are not seen at any velocity, with possible implications for the progenitor/explosion scenario. A synthetic bolometric light curve computed using the inferred abundance distribution is in very good agreement with the observed one, providing an independent check. In particular, the fast rise of the light curve is reproduced very well. This is due to outward mixing of 56Ni, which is clearly well determined by the spectroscopic modelling.

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arXiv2005

Level set simulations of turbulent thermonuclear deflagration in degenerate carbon and oxygen

We study the dynamics of thermonuclear flames propagating in fuel stirred by stochastic forcing. The fuel consists of carbon and oxygen in a state which is encountered in white dwarfs close to the Chandrasekhar limit. The level set method is applied to represent the flame fronts numerically. The computational domain for the numerical simulations is cubic, and periodic boundary conditions are imposed. The goal is the development of a suitable flame speed model for the small-scale dynamics of turbulent deflagration in thermonuclear supernovae. Because the burning process in a supernova explosion is transient and spatially inhomogeneous, the localised determination of subgrid scale closure parameters is essential. We formulate a semi-localised model based on the dynamical equation for the subgrid scale turbulence energy $k_{\mathrm{sgs}}$. The turbulent flame speed $s_{\mathrm{t}}$ is of the order $\sqrt{2k_{\mathrm{sgs}}}$. In particular, the subgrid scale model features a dynamic procedure for the calculation of the turbulent energy transfer from resolved toward subgrid scales, which has been successfully applied to combustion problems in engineering. The options of either including or suppressing inverse energy transfer in the turbulence production term are compared. In combination with the piece-wise parabolic method for the hydrodynamics, our results favour the latter option. Moreover, different choices for the constant of proportionality in the asymptotic flame speed relation, $s_{\mathrm{t}}\propto\sqrt{2k_{\mathrm{sgs}}}$, are investigated.

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arXiv2005

Metallicity effect in multi-dimensional SNIa nucleosynthesis

We investigate the metallicity effect (measured by the original 22Ne content) on the detailed nucleosynthetic yields for 3D hydrodynamical simulations of the thermonuclear burning phase in SNe Ia. Calculations are based on post-processes of the ejecta, using passively advected tracer particles, as explained in details by Travaglio et al.(2004). The nuclear reaction network employed in computing the explosive nucleosynthesis contains 383 nuclear species. For this work we use the high resolution multi-point ignition (bubbles) model b30_3d_768 (Travaglio et al.2004 for the solar metallicity case), and we cover a metallicity range between 0.1xZ_sun up to 3xZ_sun. We find a linear dependence of the 56Ni mass ejected on the progenitor's metallicity, with a variation in the 56Ni mass of ~25% in the metallicity range explored. Moreover, the largest variation in 56Ni occurs at metallicity greater than solar. Almost no variations are shown in the unburned material 12C and 16O. The largest metallicity effect is seen in the alpha-elements. Finally, implications for the observed scatter in the peak luminosities of SNe Ia are also discussed.

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arXiv2005

Type Ia supernova diversity in three-dimensional models

The use of type Ia supernovae as distance indicators for cosmology has initiated a search for theoretical arguments supporting the empirical calibration methods applied. To this end, as a first step, a sound understanding of the origin of the observed diversity in type Ia supernova properties is needed. Here we present a first systematic study of effects resulting from changing some physical parameters of three-dimensional deflagration models of thermonuclear supernovae. In our study we vary the progenitor's carbon-to-oxygen ratio and its central density prior to ignition because both properties are not well determined by stellar evolution theory and they may change from supernova to supernova. Next we compute for these explosion models the nucleosynthesis yields in a post-processing step. This, in addition, allows us to study variations in the progenitor's metallicity by means of different $^{22}$Ne mass fractions in the initial composition. We find that the progenitor's carbon-to-oxygen ratio and its central density affect the energy release of the models and thus the expansion velocity of the supernova. Moreover, we find that changing the metallicity and the central density changes the production of radioactive $^{56}$Ni and thus affects the luminosity. In contrast, the carbon-to-oxygen ratio has little effect on the $^{56}$Ni production. Implications of the found variations of the explosion energy and the produced $^{56}$Ni mass for the type Ia supernova diversity are discussed.

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arXiv2005

Numerical dissipation and the bottleneck effect in simulations of compressible isotropic turbulence

The piece-wise parabolic method (PPM) is applied to simulations of forced isotropic turbulence with Mach numbers $\sim 0.1... 1$. The equation of state is dominated by the Fermi pressure of an electron-degenerate fluid. The dissipation in these simulations is of purely numerical origin. For the dimensionless mean rate of dissipation, we find values in agreement with known results from mostly incompressible turbulence simulations. The calculation of a Smagorinsky length corresponding to the rate of numerical dissipation supports the notion of the PPM supplying an implicit subgrid scale model. In the turbulence energy spectra of various flow realisations, we find the so-called bottleneck phenomenon, i.e., a flattening of the spectrum function near the wavenumber of maximal dissipation. The shape of the bottleneck peak in the compensated spectrum functions is comparable to what is found in turbulence simulations with hyperviscosity. Although the bottleneck effect reduces the range of nearly inertial length scales considerably, we are able to estimate the value of the Kolmogorov constant. For steady turbulence with a balance between energy injection and dissipation, it appears that $C\approx 1.7$. However, a smaller value is found in the case of transonic turbulence with a large fraction of compressive components in the driving force. Moreover, we discuss length scales related to the dissipation, in particular, an effective numerical length scale $Δ_{\mathrm{eff}}$, which can be regarded as the characteristic smoothing length of the implicit filter associated with the PPM.

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arXiv2005

High-Velocity Features: a ubiquitous property of Type Ia SNe

Evidence of high-velocity features such as those seen in the near-maximum spectra of some Type Ia Supernovae (eg SN 2000cx) has been searched for in the available SNIa spectra observed earlier than one week before B maximum. Recent observational efforts have doubled the number of SNeIa with very early spectra. Remarkably, all SNeIa with early data (7 in our RTN sample and 10 from other programmes) show signs of such features, to a greater or lesser degree, in CaII IR, and some also in SiII 6255A line. High-velocity features may be interpreted as abundance or density enhancements. Abundance enhancements would imply an outer region dominated by Si and Ca. Density enhancements may result from the sweeping up of circumstellar material by the highest velocity SN ejecta. In this scenario, the high incidence of HVFs suggests that a thick disc and/or a high-density companion wind surrounds the exploding white dwarf, as may be the case in Single Degenerate systems. Large-scale angular fluctuations in the radial density and abundance distribution may also be responsible: this could originate in the explosion, and would suggest a deflagration as the more likely explosion mechanism. CSM-interaction and surface fluctuations may coexist, possibly leaving different signatures on the spectrum. In some SNe the HVFs are narrowly confined in velocity, suggesting the ejection of blobs of burned material.

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arXiv2004

The distributed burning regime in Type Ia supernova models

The deflagration mode of flame propagation in Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) models requires a correct description of the interaction of the flame with turbulent motions. It is well-known that turbulent combustion proceeds in different regimes. For most parts of the deflagration in SNe Ia the flamelet regime applies. This has been modeled in previous multi-dimensional simulations. However, at late stages of the explosion, the flame will propagate in the so-called distributed regime. We investigate the effects of this regime on SN Ia models in a first and simplified approach and show that the trend of effects seems capable of curing some problems of current pure deflagration models.

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arXiv2004

Synthetic Spectra for Type Ia Supernovae at Early Epochs

We present the current status of our construction of synthetic spectra for type Ia supernovae. These properly take into account the effects of NLTE and an adequate representation of line blocking and blanketing. The models are based on a sophisticated atomic database. We show that the synthetic spectrum reproduces the observed spectrum of 'normal' SN-Ia near maximum light from the UV to the near-IR. However, further improvements are necessary before truly quantitative analyses of observed SN-Ia spectra can be performed. In particular, the inner boundary condition has to be fundamentally modified. This is due to the dominance of electron scattering over true absorption processes coupled with the flat density structure in these objects

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arXiv2004

Full-star Type Ia supernova explosion models

We present full-star simulations of Type Ia supernova explosions on the basis of the standard Chandrasekhar-mass deflagration model. Most simulations so far considered only one spatial octant and assumed mirror symmetry to the other octants. Two full-star models are evolved to homologous expansion and compared with previous single-octant simulations. Therefrom we analyze the effect of abolishing the artificial symmetry constraint on the evolution of the flame surface. It turns out that the development of asymmetries depends on the chosen initial flame configuration. Such asymmetries of the explosion process could possibly contribute to the observed polarization of some Type Ia supernova spectra.

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arXiv2004

Photometric Observations of the Type Ia SN 2002er in UGC 10743

Extensive light and colour curves for the Type Ia supernova SN 2002er are presented as part of the European Supernova Collaboration. We have collected UBVRI photometry from ten different telescopes covering the phases from 7 days before until 619 days after maximum light. Corrections for the different instrumental systems and the non-thermal spectrum of the supernova (S-corrections) have been applied. With the densely sampled light curves we can make detailed comparisons to other well-observed objects. SN 2002er most closely resembles SN 1996X after maximum, but clearly shows a different colour evolution before peak light and a stronger shoulder in V and R bands compared to other well-observed SNe Ia. In particular, the rise time appears to be longer than what is expected from rise-time vs.decline-rate relation. We use several methods to determine the reddening towards SN 2002er based on the colour evolution at near peak and at late phases. The uvoir (bolometric) light curve shows great similarity with SN 1996X, but also indications of a higher luminosity, longer rise time and a more pronounced shoulder 25 days past maximum. The interpretation of the light curves was done with two independent light curve codes. Both find that given the luminosity of SN 2002er the 56Ni mass exceeds 0.6 Msun with prefered values near 0.7 Msun. Uncertainties in the exact distance to SN 2002er are the most serious limitation of this measurement. The light curve modelling also indicates a high level of mixing of the nickel in the explosion of SN 2002er.

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arXiv2004

Nucleosynthesis in multi-dimensional SNIa explosions

We present the results of nucleosynthesis calculations based on multidimensional (2D and 3D) hydrodynamical simulations of the thermonuclear burning phase in SNIa. The detailed nucleosynthetic yields of our explosion models are calculated by post-processing the ejecta, using passively advected tracer particles. The nuclear reaction network employed in computing the explosive nucleosynthesis contains 383 nuclear species. We analyzed two different choices of ignition conditions (centrally ignited, in which the spherical initial flame geometry is perturbated with toroidal rings, and bubbles, in which multi-point ignition conditions are simulated). We show that unburned C and O varies typically from ~40% to ~50% of the total ejected material.The main differences between all our models and standard 1D computations are, besides the higher mass fraction of unburned C and O, the C/O ratio (in our case is typically a factor of 2.5 higher than in 1D computations), and somewhat lower abundances of certain intermediate mass nuclei such as S, Cl, Ar, K, and Ca, and of 56Ni. Because explosive C and O burning may produce the iron-group elements and their isotopes in rather different proportions one can get different 56Ni-fractions (and thus supernova luminosities) without changing the kinetic energy of the explosion. Finally, we show that we need the high resolution multi-point ignition (bubbles) model to burn most of the material in the center (demonstrating that high resolution coupled with a large number of ignition spots is crucial to get rid of unburned material in a pure deflagration SNIa model).

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