2006/11/01 by A. C. Calder, Dean M. Townsley, D. M. Townsley +11 · 1 citation
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Physics and Astronomy · #Astro and Planetary Science #Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae #astro-ph #earthquake and tectonic studies
paper · pdf · doi:10.1086/510709
published as Astrophys.J.656:313-332,2007 · 21 pages, 24 figures, to appear in ApJ
arxiv created 2006/11/01 · openalex publication_date 2007/02/03 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
We develop and calibrate a realistic model flame for hydrodynamic simulations of deflagrations in white dwarf (Type Ia) supernovae. Our flame model builds on the advection-diffusion-reaction model of Khokhlov and includes electron screening and Coulomb corrections to the equation of state in a self-consistent way. We calibrate this model flame—its energetics and timescales for energy release and neutronization—with self-heating reaction network calculations that include both these Coulomb effects and up-to-date weak interactions. The burned material evolves postflame due to both weak interactions and hydrodynamic changes in density and temperature. We develop a scheme to follow the evolution, including neutronization, of the NSE state subsequent to the passage of the flame front. As a result, our model flame is suitable for deflagration simulations over a wide range of initial central densities and can track the temperature and electron fraction of the burned material through the explosion and into the expansion of the ejecta.