The Three-dimensional Collapse of a Rapidly Rotating 16 M ⊙ Star

I report on the three-dimensional (3D) hydrodynamic evolution of a rapidly rotating 16 M ⊙ star to iron core collapse. For the first time, I follow the 3D evolution of the angular momentum (AM) distribution in the iron core and convective shell burning regions for the final 10 minutes up to and including gravitational instability and core collapse. In 3D, convective regions show efficient AM transport that leads to an AM profile that differs in shape and magnitude from MESA within a few shell convective turnover timescales. For different progenitor models, such as those with tightly coupled Si/O convective shells, efficient AM transport in 3D simulations could lead to a significantly different AM distribution in the stellar interior affecting estimates of the natal neutron star or black hole spin. The results suggest that 3D AM transport in convective and rotating shell burning regions are critical components in models of massive stars and could qualitatively alter the explosion outcome and inferred compact remnant properties.

3D multi-scale modelling of plasma-based seeded soft X-ray lasers

Modelling plasma-based seeded soft X-ray lasers from the creation of the plasma to the propagation of a femtosecond high-order harmonic (HOH) seed throughout several millimetres of inhomogeneous plasma is a complex challenge. Different spatio-temporal scales from the hydrodynamic evolution of the plasma (hundreds of micrometres and nanoseconds) to the propagation of pulses through the plasma (millimetres and tens of picoseconds), electron collisions (picoseconds or even shorter) and the evolution of the envelope of the seeded HOH (tens of femtoseconds) must be tackled in order to fully understand these systems. In this paper, we will present the multi-scale computational paradigm that we have used to perform a full ab initio simulation of a dense, Ni-like Krypton plasma amplifier of soft X-rays. Results of the modelling and expected future applications will also be shown.

Impact of rotation on the evolution of convective vortices in collapsing stars

We study the impact of rotation on the hydrodynamic evolution of convective vortices during stellar collapse. Using linear hydrodynamics equations, we study the evolution of the vortices from their initial radii in convective shells down to smaller radii where they are expected to encounter the supernova shock. We find that the evolution of vortices is mainly governed by two effects: the acceleration of infall and the accompanying speed up of rotation. The former effect leads to the radial stretching of vortices, which limits the vortex velocities. The latter effect leads to the angular deformation of vortices in the direction of rotation, amplifying their non-radial velocity. We show that the radial velocities of the vortices are not significantly affected by rotation. We study acoustic wave emission and find that it is not sensitive to rotation. Finally, we analyze the impact of the corotation point and find that it has a small impact on the overall acoustic wave emission.

Precessing magnetars as central engines in short gamma-ray bursts

ABSTRACT Short gamma-ray bursts that are followed by long-duration X-ray plateaus may be powered by the birth, and hydrodynamic evolution, of magnetars from compact binary coalescence events. If the rotation and magnetic axes of the system are not orthogonal to each other, the star will undergo free precession, leading to fluctuations in the luminosity of the source. In some cases, precession-induced modulations in the spin-down power may be discernible in the X-ray flux of the plateau. In this work, 25 X-ray light curves associated with bursts exhibiting a plateau are fitted to luminosity profiles appropriate for precessing, oblique rotators. Based on the Akaike Information Criterion, 16 $(64{{\ \rm per\ cent}})$ of the magnetars within the sample display either moderate or strong evidence for precession. Additionally, since the precession period of the star is directly tied to its quadrupolar ellipticity, the fits allow for an independent measure of the extent to which the star is deformed by internal stresses. Assuming these deformations arise due to a mixed poloidal–toroidal magnetic field, we find that the distribution of magnetic-energy ratios is bimodal, with data points clustering around energetically equal and toroidally dominated partitions. Implications of this result for gravitational-wave emission and dynamo activity in newborn magnetars are discussed.

Additivity of relative magnetic helicity in finite volumes

Context. Relative magnetic helicity is conserved by magneto-hydrodynamic evolution even in the presence of moderate resistivity. For that reason, it is often invoked as the most relevant constraint on the dynamical evolution of plasmas in complex systems, such as solar and stellar dynamos, photospheric flux emergence, solar eruptions, and relaxation processes in laboratory plasmas. However, such studies often indirectly imply that relative magnetic helicity in a given spatial domain can be algebraically split into the helicity contributions of the composing subvolumes, in other words that it is an additive quantity. A limited number of very specific applications have shown that this is not the case. Aims. Progress in understanding the nonadditivity of relative magnetic helicity requires removal of restrictive assumptions in favor of a general formalism that can be used in both theoretical investigations and numerical applications. Methods. We derive the analytical gauge-invariant expression for the partition of relative magnetic helicity between contiguous finite volumes, without any assumptions on either the shape of the volumes and interface, or the employed gauge. Results. We prove the nonadditivity of relative magnetic helicity in finite volumes in the most general, gauge-invariant formalism, and verify this numerically. We adopt more restrictive assumptions to derive known specific approximations, which yields a unified view of the additivity issue. As an example, the case of a flux rope embedded in a potential field shows that the nonadditivity term in the partition equation is, in general, non-negligible. Conclusions. The nonadditivity of relative magnetic helicity can potentially be a serious impediment to the application of relative helicity conservation as a constraint on the complex dynamics of magnetized plasmas. The relative helicity partition formula can be applied to numerical simulations to precisely quantify the effect of nonadditivity on global helicity budgets of complex physical processes.

Optical transient from an explosion close to the stellar surface

ABSTRACT We study the hydrodynamic evolution of an explosion close to the stellar surface, and give predictions for the radiation from such an event. We show that such an event will give rise to a multiwavelength transient. We apply this model to describe a precursor burst to the peculiar supernova iPTF14hls, which occurred in 1954, 60 yr before the supernova. We propose that the new generation of optical surveys might detect similar transients, and that they can be used to identify supernova progenitors well before the explosion.

Uncertainties in νp-process nucleosynthesis from Monte Carlo variation of reaction rates

ABSTRACT It has been suggested that a νp-process can occur when hot, dense, and proton-rich matter is expanding within a strong flux of antineutrinos. In such an environment, proton-rich nuclides can be produced in sequences of proton captures and (n, p) reactions, where the free neutrons are created in situ by $\overline{\nu }_\mathrm{e}+\mathrm{p} {\rightarrow} \mathrm{n}+\mathrm{e}^+$ reactions. The detailed hydrodynamic evolution determines where the nucleosynthesis path turns off from N = Z line and how far up the nuclear chart it runs. In this work, the uncertainties on the final isotopic abundances stemming from uncertainties in the nuclear reaction rates were investigated in a large-scale Monte Carlo approach, simultaneously varying more than 10 000 reactions. A large range of model conditions was investigated because a definitive astrophysical site for the νp-process has not yet been identified. The present parameter study provides, for each model, identification of the key nuclear reactions dominating the uncertainty for a given nuclide abundance. As all rates appearing in the νp-process involve unstable nuclei, and thus only theoretical rates are available, the final abundance uncertainties are larger than those for nucleosynthesis processes closer to stability. Nevertheless, most uncertainties remain below a factor of 3 in trajectories with robust nucleosynthesis. More extreme conditions allow production of heavier nuclides but show larger uncertainties because of the accumulation of the uncertainties in many rates and because the termination of nucleosynthesis is not at equilibrium conditions. It is also found that the solar ratio of the abundances of 92Mo and 94Mo could be reproduced within uncertainties.