Astrophysical Transients and Compact Objects

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My research program aims to understand the physics of explosive transient events related to black holes and neutron stars, such as neutron star mergers or supernovae from massive stars. These explosions operate in extreme regimes of physics that are not achievable in laboratories on Earth, and hence connect to frontier questions such as the origin of heavy elements in the universe, the properties of matter at high densities, physics in strong gravity and/or magnetic fields, and the properties of neutrinos. A thorough understanding of these explosions is necessary for maximizing the scientific return of observational or experimental facilities including gravitational wave observatories, surveys of transients in optical or infrared light, neutrino detectors applicable to supernovae, or heavy ion accelerators. The complexity of the physics involved requires intensive computational modelling to obtain useful insights. The long-term goal of the research program is to improve our theoretical understanding of these cosmic explosions through scientific computing, thereby producing more reliable observational predictions that allow using these events as probes of extreme physics. My work thus far - supported in part with Discovery Grant funds - has been a combination of predictive and interpretative. My research group has made important contributions to our understanding of how mass is ejected from neutron star mergers. This mass ejection is crucial for the production of electromagnetic emission. We make these advances by carrying out computational fluid dynamic simulations of these systems that also include other complex physics such as nuclear reactions, neutrino processes, or the effects of general relativity. My group has also produced ground-breaking simulations of black hole formation from massive stars that reach the end of their life, generating for the first time observational predictions for all types of massive pre-supernova progenitor star. For the next 5 years, I propose to deepen our understanding of these explosions using Canada's most powerful supercomputers. I plan to train 4 graduate students, one postdoctoral fellow, as well as several summer undergraduates. These highly-qualified personnel will gain advanced high-performance computing training, as well as general problem solving skills, domain-specific knowledge, and scientific communication skills, equipping them well for both academic or industrial research careers. The results of my proposed program will impact the international community of observational astronomers, by generating improved predictions to be confronted with observations, thereby enabling the use of these events as cosmic laboratories. Furthermore, my work will complement that of an emerging domestic community of transient observers, and well established communities of nuclear astrophysicists and neutrino experimentalists in Canada.