Series: Astronomy Colloquium
Date: Wednesday 20-Nov-2019
Time: 16:05-17:00 (4:05-5:00 pm)
Location: ATL 2400
Speaker: Dr. Tuguldur Sukhbold (Ohio State University)
Title: Islands of Explosions in a Sea of Implosions
The wealth of observational data on light curves, compact object masses, and chemical abundances hold critical clues on how massive stars live and die. However, the utility of these observables were severely hampered due to our limited understanding of the explosion mechanism in core-collapse supernovae. We address this problem by developing a novel and efficient method of simulating supernovae through calibrated neutrino-driven explosions. Instead of the usual arbitrary mass cuts and tuned energies, we employ neutrino-transport along with a proto-neutron star contraction model. In this talk, I will review some of the most exciting results we have found from the application of this approach to a population of single massive stars, including possible physical explanations to the "Red Supergiant Problem", and the birth mass function of black holes and neutron stars. I will end the talk by presenting new results from its application to massive stars in binary systems that have lost their envelope to its companion. Surprisingly, it turns out the explosions of stripped stars do not make enough Nickel-56 to explain the observed Type Ib/c light curves, which goes against the decades long assumption that their optical displays are powered by radioactivity.
Colloquia are usually preceded by espresso and ice cream at 1:45 pm outside room PSC 1150 and are followed by an informal reception at 5:15 pm in that room. Anyone interested in talking with the speaker, or being added to the colloquium announcement email list, should contact the colloquium organizer. Lunch will normally be reserved for the speaker to talk to graduate students. Anyone asking a question during a talk is asked to raise their hand and be acknowledged before speaking.
Colloquium Organizer:
Prof. Richard Mushotzy
Special accommodations for individuals with disabilities can be made by calling (301) 405-3001. It would be appreciated if we are notified at least one week in advance.
