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At least 91 records · Page 5

Magnetorotational iron core collapse

During its final evolutionary stages, a massive star, as considered in current astrophysical theory, undergoes rapid collapse, thereby triggering a sequence of a catastrophic event which results in a Type II supernova explosion. A remnant neutron star or a black hole is left after the explosion. Stellar collapse occurs, when thermonuclear fusion has consumed the lighter elements present. At this stage, the core consists of iron. Difficulties arise regarding an appropriate model with respect to the core collapse. The present investigation is concerned with the evolution of a Type II supernova core including the effects of rotation and magnetic fields. A simple neutrino model is developed which reproduced the spherically symmetric results of Bowers and Wilson (1982). Several two-dimensional computational models of stellar collapse are studied, taking into account a case in which a 15 solar masses iron core was artificially given rotational and magnetic energy.

Symbalisty, E. M. D.↗

Advanced collapsible tank for liquid containment

Tanks for bulk liquid containment will be required to support advanced planetary exploration programs. Potential applications include storage of potable, process, and waste water, and fuels and process chemicals. The launch mass and volume penalties inherent in rigid tanks suggest that collapsible tanks may be more efficient. Collapsible tanks are made of lightweight flexible material and can be folded compactly for storage and transport. Although collapsible tanks for terrestrial use are widely available, a new design was developed that has significantly less mass and bulk than existing models. Modelled after the shape of a sessible drop, this design features a dual membrane with a nearly uniform stress distribution and a low surface-to-volume ratio. It can be adapted to store a variety of liquids in nearly any environment with constant acceleration field. Three models of 10L, 50L, and 378L capacity have been constructed and tested. The 378L (100 gallon) model weighed less than 10 percent of a commercially available collapsible tank of equivalent capacity, and required less than 20 percent of the storage space when folded for transport.

Flanagan, David T.↗

Protostellar collapse in a self-gravitating sheet

We present preliminary calculations of protostellar cloud collapse starting from an isothermal, self-gravitating gaseous layer in hydrostatic equilibrium. This gravitationally unstable layer collapses into a flattened or toroidal density distribution, even in the absence of rotation or magnetic fields. We suggest that the flat infalling envelope recently observed in HL Tau by Hayashi et al.is the result of collapse from an initially nonspherical layer. We also speculate that the later evolution of such a flattened, collapsing envelope can produce a structure similar to the 'flared disk' invoked by Kenyon and Hartmann to explain the infrared excesses of many T Tauri stars.

Hartmann, Lee↗

Identification of a collapsing protostar

The globular molecular cloud B335 contains a single, deeply embedded, far-infrared source. Our recent observations of H2CO and CS lines toward this source provide direct kinematic evidence for collapse. Both the intensity and detailed shape of the line profiles match those expected from inside-out collapse inside a radius of 0.036 pc. The collapse began about 1.5 X 10(exp 5) years ago, similar to the onset of the outflow. The mass accretion rate is about 10 times the outflow rate, and about 0.4 solar mass should have now accumulated in the star and disk. Because B335 rotates only very slowly, any disk would still be very small (about 3 AU). The accretion luminosity should be adequate to power the observed luminosity. Consequently, we believe that B335 is indeed a collapsing protostar.

Evans, Neal J., II↗

Identification of a Collapsing Protostar

The globular molecular cloud B335 contains a single, deeply embedded far-infrared source. Our recent observations of H2CO and CS lines toward this source provide direct kinematic evidence for collapse. Both the intensity and detailed shape of the line profiles match those expected from inside-out collapse inside a radius of 0.036 pc. The collapse began about 1.5 x 10(exp 5) years ago, similar to the onset of the outflow. The mass accretion rate is about 10 times the outflow rate, and about 0.4 solar mass should have now accumulated in the star and disk. Because B335 rotates only, any disk would still be small (about 3 AU). The accretion luminosity should be adequate to power the observed luminosity. Consequently, we believe that B335 is indeed a collapsing protostar.

Evans, Neal J., II↗

Inconsistency of Ulysses Millisecond Langmuir Spikes with Wave Collapse in Type 3 Radio Sources

Recent Ulysses observations of millisecond spikes superposed on broader Langmuir wave packets in type 3 radio sources are compared quantitatively with constraints from the theory of wave collapse. It is found that both the millisecond spikes and the wave packets have fields at least 10 times too small to be consistent with collapse, contrary to previous interpretations in terms of this process. Several alternative explanations are considered and it is argued that the spikes should be interpreted as either non-collapse phenomena or observational artifacts. To the extent the observations are representative, this rules out theories for type 3 bursts at approx. 1 - 4 AU that rely on collapse.

Cairns, Iver H.↗

Unveiling the High Energy Obscured Universe: Hunting Collapsed Objects Physics

A large part of energy from space is coming from collapsing stars (SN, Hypernovae) and collapsed stars (black holes, neutron stars and white dwarfs). The peak of their energy release is in the hard-X and gamma-ray wavelengths where photons are insensitive to absorption and can travel from the edge the Universe or the central core of the Galaxy without loosing the primordial information of energy, time signature and polarization. The most efficient process to produce energetic photons is gravitational accretion of matter from a "normal" star onto a collapsed companion (L~GxMcollxdMacc/dtx( 1Rdisc)-dMacc/dt x c2), exceeding by far the nuclear reaction capability to generate high energy quanta. Thus our natural laboratory for "in situ" investigations are collapsed objects in which matter and radiation co-exist in extreme conditions of temperature and density due to gravitationally bent geometry and magnetic fields. This is a unique opportunity to study the physics of accretion flows in stellar mass and super-massive Black Holes (SMBHs), plasmoids generated in relativistic jets in galactic microQSOs and AGNs, ionised plasma interacting at the touching point of weakly magnetized NS surface, GRB/Supernovae connection, and the mysterious origins of "dark" GRB and X-ray flash.

Ubertini, P.↗

Stability of the Early Mars Atmosphere to Collapse into Permanent Polarcaps

The presence of a permanent CO2 polar ice cap on Mars has important consequences for the planet's climate system. The heat balance of such a cap, which is determined mainly by atmospheric heat transport, and the downward solar in infrared radiative fluxes, determines its surface temperature, which through the vapor pressure relation sets the mean annual surface pressure. On Mars today, for example, the south residual CO2 cap is present year-round with a mean annual temperature of approximately 145 K which corresponds to a mean annual CO2 vapor pressure of approximately 600 Pa. On early Mars, permanent polar caps are also possible especially since the sun was less luminous 3.5-4.0 Gya. Thus, the existence of permanent polar caps on early Mars is central to understanding the nature of the planets climate system in those ancient times and whether or not the atmosphere might have been capable of sustaining conditions suitable for liquid water flowing over the surface as is indicated in the geological record. Forget et al [1] showed that for present orbital properties atmospheric collapse into permanent polar caps could only be prevented for surface pressures roughly between 500 - 3000 hPa. Though follow-on studies confirm and extend the Forget et al. results [2], the full sensitivity of this "window" of stability has not been explored. There are many factors to consider such the albedo of the caps, dust content of the atmosphere, and the presence of water ice clouds. However, we begin our exploration of the stability of the early Martian atmosphere by focusing on the role of CO2 ice clouds. In some preliminary simulations with the Ames Mars General Circulation Model (GCM) we found that atmospheric collapse depends on assumptions regarding the fate of CO2 ice clouds. If, for example, we assume the clouds immediately fall to the surface, then in some cases collapse is favored. On the other hand if the clouds are allowed to fall and evaporate, collapse can be averted. This implies that CO2 ice cloud microphysics is important to the overall stability of the atmosphere. Though the Ames GCM has a sophisticated CO2 cloud microphysics package that includes nucleation, growth, and sedimentation (see accompanying poster by Kahre et al. [3]), we have implemented a simpler scheme based on the Forget et al. [1] approach to CO2 ice clouds. Our goal is to reproduce and expand their study. The key parameter in this approach is the concentration and vertical distribution of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), i.e., dust particles. Fewer CCN lead to larger particles which fall faster, while higher CCN concentrations lead to smaller particles and thicker clouds that remain suspended for longer periods of time. We plan to explore the stability of the atmosphere to CCN concentrations and distributions and then assess the capability of thick early atmospheres to loft and distribute dust particles (CCN) around the planet. Thus, our work will shed light on the nature of the coupling between the dust and CO2 cycles and the implications it has for the early Mars climate system.

ice cap↗

Observational Evidence for Langmuir Wave Collapse in the Source Region of a Solar Type III Radio Burst

High-time-resolution in situ wave observations show that Langmuir waves associated with solar type III radio bursts often occur as coherent localized one-dimensional magnetic-field-aligned wave packets with short durations of a few milliseconds and peak intensities well above the strong turbulence thresholds. In this paper, we report observations of a wave packet obtained by the time domain sampler of the STEREO WAVES experiment, which is unique in the sense that it is the most intense wave packet ever detected in association with a solar type III radio burst, with a peak intensity Et ∼ 107 mVm(sup-1). We show that this wave packet provides evidence for (1) oscillating two-stream instability (OTSI), (2) a collapsing soliton formed as a result of OTSI, (3) the formation of a soliton-caviton pair, and (4) excitation of second and third harmonic electromagnetic waves. We also show that the peak intensity and spatial width satisfy the threshold condition for this wave packet to be the collapsing Langmuir wave packet formed as a result of nucleation processes even when δn(sub b) > δn(sub p), where δn(sub b) and δn(sub p) are the levels of background and ponderomotive-force-induced density fluctuations, respectively. Thus, these observations provide unambiguous evidence for the spatial collapse of Langmuir waves in the source region of a type III radio burst, and the observed spectral evidence for OTSI and the ponderomotive-force-induced density cavity strongly suggest that OTSI is mostly likely responsible for the collapse of the observed wave packet.

Radio↗

Validation of Ullage Collapse Due to Violent Lateral Slosh

Understanding the coupling between thermodynamics and propellant sloshing is important for cryogenic upper stages, especially during the lift-off phase and in missions including multiple engine restarts, as the fluid dynamic condition of the propellant is mainly influenced by various flight maneuvers. This paper describes the development and validation of a Volume of Fluid (VOF)-based CFD solver, Loci/STREAM-VOF, to the ullage collapse under violent later slosh conditions. Loci/STREAM-VOF is shown to be able to capture detailed slosh dynamics, including slosh frequency, non-linear slosh damping, and violent surface breakup due to forced acceleration. The comparison of surface shape and small drops formed during large amplitude slosh with experimental imagery shows excellent agreement throughout the sloshing period. Comparison of temperature histories in the ullage, at the gas-liquid interface, and inside liquid with the experiment conducted at JAXA also show very good agreement. The simulation points to a stratified temperature field inside the liquid near the interface, critical to the ullage pressure after the collapse. The predicted pressure collapse matches well with the experimental value due to sloshing. Parametric sensitivity studies suggest that high-fidelity Loci/STREM-VOF simulations can play an essential role in predicting the actual thermodynamics of ullage collapse when following the recommended simulation methodology.

H Q Yang↗

Effect of the Nuclear Equation of State on Relativistic Turbulence-induced Core-collapse Supernovae

Abstract The nuclear equation of state (EOS) is an important component in the evolution of core-collapse supernovae. In this paper we make a survey of various EOSs in the literature and analyze their effect on spherical core-collapse models in which the effects of three-dimensional turbulence is modeled by a general relativistic formulation of Supernova Turbulence In Reduced-dimensionality (STIR). We show that the viability of the explosion is quite EOS dependent and that it best correlates with the early-time interior entropy density of the proto–neutron star. We check that this result is not progenitor dependent, although the lowest-mass progenitors show different explosion properties, due to the different pre-collapse nuclear composition. Larger central entropies also induce more vigorous proto–neutron star convection in our one-dimensional turbulence model, as well as a wider convective layer.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Impact of equilibrium radial electric field on energy loss process after pedestal collapse

An impact of the equilibrium radial electric field on energy loss processes after pedestal collapse is numerically investigated using the BOUT++ framework. Using linear stability analysis, the resistive ballooning mode is shown to be stabilized by the radial shear of the equilibrium radial electric field. On the other hand, the energy loss level after the pedestal collapse increases if the equilibrium radial electric field is taken into account. The spatio-temporal and phase diagram analyses show that the equilibrium radial electric field partially cancels the fluctuation-driven toroidally axisymmetric radial electric field and weakens the E × B shearing rate after pedestal collapse, weakening the turbulence suppression by vortex shearing. Finally, the equilibrium radial electric field therefore increases turbulence intensity in nonlinear cyclic oscillations among pressure gradient, E × B shearing rate, and turbulence intensity, which gives rise to subsequent bursts of turbulent transport and increases the energy loss level.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Numerical study on spray collapse process of ECN spray G injector under flash boiling conditions

This work features a numerical study of the spray collapse process that occurs under flash-boiling, gasoline-direct-injection conditions. The Engine Combustion Network's Spray G injector was modeled, and iso-octane, n-hexane, and propane were used as fuels with the goal to investigate fuel property effects. The development of individual jets and jet-to-jet interaction were analyzed to reveal the physical mechanisms of spray collapse. The results agreed qualitatively well with the experimental data of propane available from the literature and the predictions revealed the model's ability to capture the near-nozzle shock structures witnessed in the experiments. Simulations showed that the flow development of flashing sprays was strongly tied with the fuel properties. Specifically, under-expanded jets were not observed with iso-octane due to the fuel's low vapor pressure. In the case of n-hexane, the jets were under-expanded, and a low-pressure core was observed inside the jets due to the flow expansion. With propane, the very strong expansion caused the flow to become transonic and generate a unique shock structure near the nozzle exit. The shock structure revealed the formation of primary shock cells within the jets and secondary shock cells induced by jet-to-jet interaction. Based on the results, the spray collapse under flash boiling conditions was mainly attributed to two effects, i.e., the decrease in pressure at the spray center induced by the low-pressure cores inside and between the jets, and the isolation effect due to the jet-to-jet interaction which contributed to maintain the pressure differential between the spray center and the ambient.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Constraining Properties of the Next Nearby Core-collapse Supernova with Multimessenger Signals

With the advent of modern neutrino and gravitational wave (GW) detectors, the promise of multimessenger detections of the next galactic core-collapse supernova (CCSN) has become very real. Such detections will give insight into the CCSN mechanism and the structure of the progenitor star, and may resolve longstanding questions in fundamental physics. In order to properly interpret these detections, a thorough understanding of the landscape of possible CCSN events, and their multimessenger signals, is needed. We present detailed predictions of neutrino and GW signals from 1D simulations of stellar core collapse, spanning the landscape of core-collapse progenitors from 9 to 120 M ⊙ . In order to achieve explosions in 1D, we use the Supernova Turbulence In Reduced-dimensionality model, which includes the effects of turbulence and convection in 1D supernova simulations to mimic the 3D explosion mechanism. We study the GW emission from the 1D simulations using an astroseismology analysis of the protoneutron star. We find that the neutrino and GW signals are strongly correlated with the structure of the progenitor star and remnant compact object. Using these correlations, future detections of the first few seconds of neutrino and GW emission from a galactic CCSN may be able to provide constraints on stellar evolution independent of preexplosion imaging and the mass of the compact object remnant prior to fallback accretion.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

INVESTIGATION OF YIELD COLLAPSE OF STIFFENED CIRCULAR CYLINDRICAL SHELLS WITH A GIVEN OUT-OF-ROUNDNESS

The effect of out-of-roundness on the yield collapse strength of ring stiffened circular cylindrical shells under hydrostatic pressure has been determined experimentally. On the basis of the experimental data and theoretical stress distributions, empirical relations have been developed which, in conjunction with the theoretically predictable yield collapse strength of round ring-stiffened circular cylindrical shells, permits the prediction of the yield collapse strength of shells with out-of-roundness.

CYLINDRICAL SHELL↗

Asymmetries in Core-Collapse Supernovae from Maps of Radioactiver 44Ti in Cassiopeia A

Asymmetry is required by most numerical simulations of stellar core-collapse explosions, but the form it takes differs significantly among models. The spatial distribution of radioactive 44Ti, synthesized in an exploding star near the boundary between material falling back onto the collapsing core and that ejected into the surroundingmedium1, directly probes the explosion asymmetries. Cassiopeia A is a young2, nearby3, core-collapse4 remnant from which 44Ti emission has previously been detected5-8 but not imaged. Asymmetries in the explosion have been indirectly inferred from a high ratio of observed 44Ti emission to estimated 56Ni emission9, from optical light echoes10, and from jet-like features seen in the X-ray11 and optical12 ejecta. Here we report spatial maps and spectral properties of the 44Ti in Cassiopeia A. This may explain the unexpected lack of correlation between the 44Ti and iron X-ray emission, the latter being visible only in shock-heated material. The observed spatial distribution rules out symmetric explosions even with a high level of convective mixing, as well as highly asymmetric bipolar explosions resulting from a fast-rotating progenitor. Instead, these observations provide strong evidence for the development of low-mode convective instabilities in core-collapse supernovae.

stellarcore-collapse explosions↗

Unveiling horizons in quantum critical collapse

Critical gravitational collapse offers a unique window into regimes of arbitrarily high curvature, culminating in a naked singularity arising from smooth initial data — thus providing a dynamical counterexample to weak cosmic censorship. Near the critical regime, quantum effects from the collapsing matter are expected to intervene before full quantum gravity resolves the singularity. Despite its fundamental significance, a self-consistent treatment has so far remained elusive. In this work, we perform a one-loop semiclassical analysis using the robust anomaly-based method in the canonical setup of Einstein gravity minimally coupled to a free, massless scalar field. Focusing on explicitly solvable near-critical solutions in both 2 + 1 and 3 + 1 dimensions, we analytically solve the semiclassical Einstein equations and obtain controlled, quantitative results for several long-standing questions within the dominant s-wave sector. We find that regularity uniquely selects a Boulware-like quantum state, encoding genuine vacuum polarization effects from the collapsing matter. Remarkably, the resulting quantum corrections manifest as a growing mode. Horizon-tracing analyses, incorporating both classical and quantum modes, reveal the emergence of a finite mass gap, signaling a phase transition from classical Type II to quantum-modified Type I behavior, thereby providing a quantum enforcement of the weak cosmic censorship. The most non-trivial aspect of our analysis involves dealing with non-conformal matter fields in explicitly time-dependent critical spacetimes. Along the way, we uncover intriguing and previously underexplored features of quantum field theory in curved spacetime.

2D Gravity↗

Sensitivity of pore collapse heating to the melting temperature and shear viscosity of HMX

A multiscale modeling strategy is used to quantify factors governing the temperature rise in hot spots formed by pore collapse from supported and unsupported shock waves in the high explosive HMX (octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine). Two physical aspects are examined in detail, namely the melting temperature and liquid shear viscosity. All-atom molecular dynamics simulations of phase coexistence are used to predict the pressure-dependent melting temperature up to 5 GPa. Equilibrium simulations and the Green–Kubo formalism are used to obtain the temperature- and pressure-dependent liquid shear viscosity. Starting from a simplified continuum-based grain-scale model of HMX, in this study we systematically increase the complexity of treatments for the solid–liquid phase transition and liquid shear viscosity in simulations of pore collapse. Using a realistic pressure-dependent melting temperature completely suppresses melting for supported shocks, which is otherwise predicted when treating it as a constant determined at atmospheric pressure. Alternatively, melt pools form around collapsed pores when the pressure (and melting temperature) are reduced during the release stage of unsupported shocks. Capturing the pressure dependence of the shear viscosity increases the peak temperature of melt pools by hundreds of Kelvin through viscous work. The complicated interplay of the solid-phase plastic work, solid–liquid phase transition, and liquid-phase viscous work identified here motivate taking a systematic approach to building increasingly complex grain-scale models.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗