Continued Exploration of the Nucleosynthesis of Core Collapse Supernovae

除了是最具能量的天体物理事件之一，核心坍塌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演化的关键参与者。从射电和光学望远镜到核加速器、中微子和重力波探测器，超新星一直是，并将继续是各种天文、核物理和粒子物理实验和观测站非常感兴趣的天体。在这里，希克斯博士将继续努力提高我们对核心坍塌超新星爆炸时的核合成的理解。这项工作建立在以前NSF支持的努力的基础上，是对能源部资助的对橡树岭国家实验室发生的核心坍塌超新星机制的研究的补充。近年来的努力表明，超新星机制的细节可以对超新星喷射物的组成和分布产生很大影响。由于许多关于超新星的重要观测都强调了元素组成，因此准确计算核合成是至关重要的。真实的核合成只能以自洽的多维方式计算，这与目前的参数一维模型有很大的不同。因此，将对这种模型的核合成进行一系列研究，最终目标是在中微子辐射流体力学模型中计算自洽的核合成。希克斯博士将继续就这一主题进行公开演讲，并参与田纳西州橡树岭的美国科学与工程博物馆核天体物理学展览的开发。两名研究生还将得到超新星研究方面的支持和培训，并获得进入橡树岭国家实验室世界级科学环境的机会。预计本科生也将在夏季参与这项研究(由田纳西州支持)。

In addition to being among the most energetic of astrophysical events, core collapse supernovae are the most productive factories of the heavy elements that are necessary for life. As a result, they are critical players in the origin and evolution of the chemical elements. Supernovae have been, and continue to be, objects of great interest to a wide range of astronomical, nuclear and particle physics experiments and observatories, from radio and optical telescopes to nuclear accelerators and neutrino and gravity wave detectors. Here Dr. Hix will continue efforts toward improving our understanding of the nucleosynthesis that results when a core collapse supernova explodes. This work builds on previous NSF-supported efforts and is complementary to Department of Energy funded research into the core collapse supernovae mechanism occurring at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Efforts in recent years have shown that the details of the supernova mechanism can have a large impact on the composition and distribution of supernova ejecta. Since many of the important observations of supernovae highlight the elemental composition, accurate calculation of the nucleosynthesis is essential. Realistic nucleosynthesis can only be calculated in a self-consistent multi-dimensional fashion, quite different from current parameterized one-dimensional models. Therefore a series of investigations into the nucleosynthesis of such models will be conducted with the ultimate goal of self consistent nucleosynthesis, calculated within the neutrino radiation hydrodynamic models. Dr. Hix will continue giving public lectures on this topic as well as participating in the development of a Nuclear Astrophysics exhibit at the American Museum of Science and Engineering in Oak Ridge, TN. Two graduate students will also be supported and trained in supernova research and provided with access to the world class scientific environment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. It is also expected that undergraduate students will be involved in this research during the summer (supported by the state of Tennessee).