Exploring the Nucleosynthesis of Core Collapse Supernovae in Multidimensions

多维度探索核心塌缩超新星的核合成

• 批准号: 0244783
• 负责人: William Hix
• 金额: $ 20.66万
• 依托单位: University of Tennessee Knoxville
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2003
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2003-09-01 至 2007-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0244783&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Exploring; Nucleosynthesis; Core; Collapse; Supernovae

In addition to being among the most energetic of astrophysical events, core collapsesupernovae are the most productive factories of the heavy elements which are necessary forlife. As a result, they are critical players in the origin and evolution of the chemicalelements, a subject of study central to the Directorate of Mathematical \& PhysicalSciences' Origins of the Universe theme. Supernovae have also been, and continue to be,objects of great interest to a wide range of NSF-funded astronomical, nuclear and particlephysics experiments and observatories, from radio and optical telescopes to nuclearaccelerators and neutrino and gravity wave detectors. The theoretical study of corecollapse supernovae has progressed greatly in recent years, however compelling questionsremain.In this proposal, we advance a plan to improve our understanding ofthe nucleosynthesis which results when a core collapse supernovae explodes. This proposalbuilds on our current efforts and is complimentary to DoE funded research into the corecollapse supernova mechanism at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. While the theoreticalstudy of core collapse supernovae has progressed greatly in the past decade, fundamentalquestions remain, including ''Can the neutrino reheating mechanism, when calculatedaccurately in multidimensions, successfully produce supernova explosions?'' Key toanswering these questions is the ability to compare the computed models with observations.Since many of the important observations of supernovae highlight the elementalcomposition, accurate calculation of the nucleosynthesis of these multi-dimensional corecollapse supernova simulations is needed. In particular, we need to see how realisticnucleosynthesis, calculated in a self-consistent multi-dimensional fashion, differs fromcurrent parameterized one dimensional models. We therefore propose to build on ourworld-leading neutrino radiation hydrodynamic capability and investigate thenucleosynthesis of these models. Our ultimate goal is self consistent nucleosynthesis,calculated in situ within the neutrino radiation hydrodynamic models, but we will alsodiscuss interim steps that will give us some nucleosynthesis information more immediately.The realization that "we are star stuff", that the chemical elements that compose ourbodies and our world originate in stars, has penetrated deep into the public awareness,reaching as far as pop culture and philosophy. Thus, the study of Cosmic Origins isscience with broad societal impact and interest. In response to this public curiosity,Hix and Mezzacappa have given several public lectures on this topic in recent years andexpect to continue to do so as part of this proposed effort. This proposal would furtherthe interdisciplinary collaboration between nuclear physics and astrophysics. Thisproposal would also further educational and professional development on several fronts.This proposal would fund the involvement of a graduate student in supernova researchefforts at ORNL, providing educational access to a world class scientific environment. Wealso anticipate the involvement in this research of summer undergraduate students, as wehave in the past, through the Science Alliance funded by the state of Tennessee. Finallythis proposal would allow Hix to develop his independent research agenda, furthering hisdevelopment as a scientist.

除了是最有能量的天体物理事件之一，核心塌缩超新星也是生命所必需的重元素最多产的工厂。因此，它们是化学元素起源和进化的关键参与者，化学元素是数理科学局宇宙起源主题的中心研究课题。从射电和光学望远镜到核加速器、中微子和重力波探测器，超新星也一直是，并将继续是由美国国家科学基金会资助的各种天文、核物理和粒子物理实验和观测站非常感兴趣的天体。近几年来，共坍缩超新星的理论研究取得了很大的进展，但仍然存在一些引人注目的问题。在这个提议中，我们提出了一个计划，以提高我们对核心塌缩超新星爆炸时产生的核合成的理解。这一提议是在我们目前努力的基础上提出的，是对美国能源部资助的橡树岭国家实验室的共旋超新星机制研究的补充。虽然在过去的十年里，核心塌缩超新星的理论研究取得了很大的进展，但基本的问题仍然存在，包括“中微子重新加热的机制，当在多维空间中进行准确计算时，能否成功地产生超新星爆炸？”回答这些问题的关键是将计算模型与观测结果进行比较的能力。由于许多重要的超新星观测强调了元素组成，因此需要准确计算这些多维同卷曲超新星模拟的核合成。特别是，我们需要了解以自洽的多维方式计算的现实核合成与当前的参数化一维模型有何不同。因此，我们建议在我们世界领先的中微子辐射流体力学能力的基础上，研究这些模型的核合成。我们的最终目标是自洽的核合成，在中微子辐射流体力学模型中进行现场计算，但我们也将讨论过渡步骤，这些步骤将更直接地为我们提供一些核合成信息。人们意识到，组成我们身体和我们世界的化学元素起源于恒星，这一认识已经深入到公众意识中，甚至延伸到流行文化和哲学。因此，宇宙起源研究是一门具有广泛社会影响和兴趣的科学。为了回应公众的好奇心，HIX和Mezzacappa在最近几年就这一主题进行了几次公开演讲，并希望继续这样做，作为这一拟议努力的一部分。这一建议将促进核物理和天体物理之间的跨学科合作。这项建议还将在几个方面促进教育和专业发展。这项建议将资助一名研究生参与ORNL的超新星研究工作，提供进入世界级科学环境的教育机会。我们也期待通过田纳西州资助的科学联盟，像过去一样，让暑期本科生参与这项研究。最后，这项提议将允许Hix制定他的独立研究议程，促进他作为一名科学家的发展。