Colloquium
Simulations
of Type Ia Supernovae
and Buoyancy-Driven Turbulent Nuclear Combustion
Dr. Robert Fisher
Department of Astronomy
& Astrophysics
University of Chicago
Tuesday, March 25, 2008, 1:40 p.m., SCIC 126
In
recent years, advances in computational science have led to fundamental
insights into physical processes, particularly under extreme conditions of
temperature and density. These advances have placed computation alongside
theory and experiment as one of the foundational pillars of the physical
sciences. In this colloquium, I will discuss one of the best examples of physical
insight gleaned from computation -- full-star simulations of the
thermonuclear-powered Type
Ia
supernovae. I will introduce Type
Ia
supernovae as astronomical events, highlighting their importance as
standard candles and their use in the determination of cosmological parameters,
including the equation of state of dark energy. I will present recent,
exciting, fully three-dimensional simulations of Type Ia
supernovae which have -- for the first time -- self-consistently produced a
successful detonation. I will then conclude with current simulations which
we are now undertaking which will improve our understanding of
buoyancy-driven turbulent nuclear burning -- one of the key fundamental
physical processes which must be modeled in full-star Ia
simulations -- as well as promising directions for future research.
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