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DOE OSTI2022

Constructing high-fidelity halo merger trees in abacussummit

ABSTRACT Tracking the formation and evolution of dark matter haloes is a critical aspect of any analysis of cosmological N-body simulations. In particular, the mass assembly of a halo and its progenitors, encapsulated in the form of its merger tree, serves as a fundamental input for constructing semi-analytic models of galaxy formation and, more generally, for building mock catalogues that emulate galaxy surveys. We present an algorithm for constructing halo merger trees from abacussummit, the largest suite of cosmological N-body simulations performed to date consisting of nearly 60 trillion particles, and which has been designed to meet the Cosmological Simulation Requirements of the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) survey. Our method tracks the cores of haloes to determine associations between objects across multiple time slices, yielding lists of halo progenitors and descendants for the several tens of billions of haloes identified across the entire suite. We present an application of these merger trees as a means to enhance the fidelity of abacussummit halo catalogues by flagging and ‘merging’ haloes deemed to exhibit non-monotonic past merger histories. We show that this cleaning technique identifies portions of the halo population that have been deblended due to choices made by the halo finder, but which could have feasibly been part of larger aggregate systems. We demonstrate that by cleaning halo catalogues in this post-processing step, we remove potentially unphysical features in the default halo catalogues, leaving behind a more robust halo population that can be used to create highly accurate mock galaxy realizations from abacussummit.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Hydrodynamic simulations of white dwarf–white dwarf mergers and the origin of R Coronae Borealis stars

We study the properties of double white dwarf (DWD) mergers by performing hydrodynamic simulations using the new and improved adaptive mesh refinement code OCTO-TIGER. We follow the orbital evolution of DWD systems of mass ratio $q=0.7$ for tens of orbits until and after the merger to investigate them as a possible origin for R Coronae Borealis (RCB) type stars. We reproduce previous results, finding that during the merger, the helium WD donor star is tidally disrupted within 20–80 min since the beginning of the simulation onto the accretor carbon–oxygen WD, creating a high temperature shell around the accretor. We investigate the possible helium burning in this shell and the merged object’s general structure. Specifically, we are interested in the amount of oxygen-16 dredged-up from the accretor to the hot shell and the amount of oxygen-18 produced. This is critical as the discovery of very low oxygen-16 to oxygen-18 ratios in RCB stars pointed out the merger scenario as a favourable explanation for their origin. A small amount of hydrogen in the donor may help keep the oxygen-16 to oxygen-18 ratios within observational bounds, even if moderate dredge-up from the accretor occurs. In addition, we perform a resolution study to reconcile the difference found in the amount of oxygen-16 dredge-up between smoothed-particle hydrodynamics and grid-based simulations.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2021

Signatures of deconfined quark phases in binary neutron star mergers

We investigate the quark deconfinement phase transition in the context of binary neutron star (BNS) mergers. We employ a new finite-temperature composition-dependent equation of state (EOS) with a first order phase transition between hadrons and deconfined quarks to perform numerical relativity simulations of BNS mergers. Here, the softening of the EOS due to the phase transition causes the merger remnants to be more compact and to collapse to a black hole (BH) at earlier times. The phase transition is imprinted on the postmerger gravitational wave (GW) signal duration, amplitude, and peak frequency. However, this imprint is only detectable for binaries with sufficiently long-lived remnants. Moreover, the phase transition does not result in significant deviations from quasi-universal relations for the postmerger GW peak frequency. We also study the impact of the phase transition on dynamical ejecta, remnant accretion disk masses, r-process nucleosynthetic yields and associated electromagnetic (EM) counterparts. While there are differences in the EM counterparts and nucleosynthesis yields between the purely hadronic models and the models with phase transitions, these can be primarily ascribed to the difference in remnant collapse time between the two. An exception is the non-thermal afterglow caused by the interaction of the fastest component of the dynamical ejecta and the interstellar medium, which is systematically boosted in the binaries with phase transition as a consequence of the more violent merger they experience.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2022

Interpretable AI forecasting for numerical relativity waveforms of quasicircular, spinning, nonprecessing binary black hole mergers

We present a deep-learning artificial intelligence model (AI) that is capable of learning and forecasting the late-inspiral, merger and ringdown of numerical relativity waveforms that describe quasicircular, spinning, nonprecessing binary black hole mergers. We used the NRHybSur3dq8 surrogate model to produce train, validation and test sets of ℓ = |m| = 2 waveforms that cover the parameter space of binary black hole mergers with mass ratios q ≤ 8 and individual spins |s$^{z}_ {(1,2)}$| ≤ 0.8. These waveforms cover the time range t ∊ [-5000 M, 130 M], where t = 0M marks the merger event, defined as the maximum value of the waveform amplitude. We harnessed the ThetaGPU supercomputer at the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility to train our AI model using a training set of 1.5 million waveforms. We used 16 NVIDIA DGX A100 nodes, each consisting of 8 NVIDIA A100 Tensor Core GPUs and 2 AMD Rome CPUs, to fully train our model within 3.5 h. Our findings show that artificial intelligence can accurately forecast the dynamical evolution of numerical relativity waveforms in the time range t ∊ [-100 M, 130 M]. Sampling a test set of 190,000 waveforms, we find that the average overlap between target and predicted waveforms is ≳99% over the entire parameter space under consideration. We also combined scientific visualization and accelerated computing to identify what components of our model take in knowledge from the early and late-time waveform evolution to accurately forecast the latter part of numerical relativity waveforms. This work aims to accelerate the creation of scalable, computationally efficient and interpretable artificial intelligence models for gravitational wave astrophysics

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2025

Cocoon shock breakout emission from binary neutron star mergers

Shock breakout emission is among the first observable signals in a wide variety of astrophysical phenomena, including neutron star (NS) mergers, and it can be the dominant component in low-luminosity short γ-ray bursts, as exemplified by GRB 170817A. In this work, we investigate the cocoon shock breakout emission in NS mergers and how its signal depends on the outermost layers of the ejecta profile, which we derive from general relativistic radiation hydrodynamic simulations. We study the formation of the cocoon as a consequence of a relativistic jet propagating through the ejecta. To explore the influence of the outermost layers of the ejecta on the breakout emission, we explore cases where the ejecta has a sharp cutoff or an extended smooth tail. We find that the shock breakout emission is strongly influenced by the shape of the ejecta outer layers, with extended tails yielding results consistent with the observed properties of GRB 170817A, whereas sharp cutoffs overestimate the radiated energy. Using a Bayesian analysis, we estimate the best fit parameters of the central engine, considering both accreting black hole and magnetized neutron star scenarios. Our findings indicate a slight preference for the scenarios where the engine is a black hole. Furthermore, our work probes the nature of neutron star mergers and highlights the importance of the shape of the ejecta profile in modeling early electromagnetic counterparts to these mergers.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2025

Signature of hadron-quark crossover in binary-neutron-star mergers

Here, we study observational signatures of the hadron-quark crossover in binary-neutron-star mergers by numerical-relativity simulations with various mass configurations. We employ two equations of state (EoSs) for matter consistent with inference from the observational data. In the crossover scenario the EoS is softened in a density realized in binary-neutron-star mergers and is smoothly continued to quark matter. In the phase transition scenario without crossover, the EoS remains stiff and a first-order phase transition takes place in a density out of reach of mergers. A GW170817-like system forms a remnant massive neutron star in both scenarios, and it collapses into a black hole only in the crossover scenario due to the softening while gravitational-wave emission is strong. This difference is clearly reflected in the sudden shutdown of gravitational waves. For a given EoS, the lifetime of the merger remnant is determined primarily by the total mass of the system. Identifying these features in a variety of future events with the next generation of ground-based gravitational-wave detectors will enable us to clarify details of hadron-quark transition. The mass of the accretion disk surrounding the remnant black hole is affected not only by the lifetime of the remnant but also by the mass ratio of the system. Electromagnetic emission associated with the disk outflow will also be useful for detailed investigation of the hadron-quark transition.

QCD phase transitions↗

DOE OSTI2021

Optimization of a High Bunch Charge ERL Injection Merger for PERLE

Delivery of high charge electron bunches into the main loop of an ERL (energy recovery linac) while preserving the emittance is challenging. This is because at the typical injection momentum, space charge forces still have a significant effect on the beam dynamics. In this work we consider the design of the merger for PERLE, an ERL test facility to be based at IJCLab in France. Previous simulations have shown that the baseline DC gun based injector can achieve the required emittance at the booster linac exit. The quality of the 500 pC bunches must then be preserved with space charge through the merger at total beam energy of 7 MeV keeping the emittance below 6 mm mrad. The beam dynamics in the merger were simulated using the code OPAL and optimised using a genetic algorithm. Three possible merger schemes were investigated. The goal of the optimisation was to minimise the emittance growth while also achieving the required Twiss parameters to match onto the spreader at the main linac exit. A three dipole solution is then examined in more detail.

Hounsell, B.↗

DOE OSTI2026

Modeling The Nucleosynthetic Imprint of Stellar Merger Phenomena - Final Technical Report

This DOE CAREER project developed a comprehensive, multi-physics framework for modeling stellar mergers and their observable consequences. The work successfully integrated analytical models, three-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations, stellar evolution calculations, nucleosynthesis, and radiation transport into a unified pipeline. Key scientific advances include demonstrating stellar mergers as a unifying explanation for systems such as Betelgeuse and R Coronae Borealis stars, quantifying merger-driven chemical signatures, and establishing the connection between merger physics and circumstellar environments. A major outcome of the project is the development of SuperLite, an open-source Monte Carlo radiation transport code that enables the generation of synthetic spectra for astrophysical transients. This work bridges dynamical, thermal, and radiative timescales and provides a powerful, DOE-relevant computational framework for interpreting observations of supernovae and related transient phenomena, while also contributing to workforce development through the training of postdoctoral researchers and graduate students.

Chatzopoulos, Emmanouil [Louisiana State Universit↗

DOE OSTI2020

Chromium Nucleosynthesis and Silicon–Carbon Shell Mergers in Massive Stars

In this work, we analyze the production of the element Cr in galactic chemical evolution (GCE) models using the NuGrid nucleosynthesis yields set. We show that the unusually large [Cr/Fe] abundance at [Fe/H] ≈ 0 reported by previous studies using those yields and predicted by our Milky Way model originates from the merging of convective Si-burning and C-burning shells in a 20 ${M}_{\odot }$ model at metallicity Z = 0.01, about an hour before the star explodes. This merger mixes the incomplete burning material in the Si shell, including 51 V and 52 Cr, out to the edge of the carbon/oxygen (CO) core. The adopted supernova model ejects the outer 2 ${M}_{\odot }$ of the CO core, which includes a significant fraction of the Cr-rich material. When including this 20 M⊙ model at Z = 0.01 in the yields interpolation scheme of our GCE model for stars between 15 and 25 ${M}_{\odot }$, we overestimate [Cr/Fe] by an order of magnitude at [Fe/H] ≈ 0 relative to observations in the Galactic disk. This raises a number of questions regarding the occurrence of Si–C shell mergers in nature, the accuracy of different simulation approaches, and the impact of such mergers on the presupernova structure and explosion dynamics. According to the conditions in this 1D stellar model, the substantial penetration of C-shell material into the Si shell could launch a convective–reactive global oscillation if a merger does take place. In any case, GCE provides stringent constraints on the outcome of this stellar evolution phase.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2025

Inference of Multichannel r -process Element Enrichment in the Milky Way Using Binary Neutron Star Merger Observations

Observations of GW170817 strongly suggest that binary neutron star (BNS) mergers produce rapid neutron-capture nucleosynthesis ( r -process) elements. However, it remains an open question whether these mergers can account for all the r -process element enrichment in the Milky Way’s history. Here, we constrain the contributions of the BNS channel using astrophysical neutron star observations. The rate and mass distributions are constrained by LIGO/Virgo/Kagra through the latest catalog GWTC-3, the neutron star equation of state by gravitational-wave, radio, and X-ray observations, and the delay time distribution by short gamma-ray burst (GRB) host galaxy associations. We present a Bayesian framework to consistently combine these observations with abundance information to quantify the contribution and uncertainties of single and multiple astrophysical enrichment sources, and obtain a distribution of per-event BNS r -process element yields consistent with geophysical and astrophysical abundance constraints. We then adopt a Galactic chemical evolution model assuming an instantaneous and fixed amount of Fe enrichment from core-collapse supernovae, and show that BNS-only enrichment scenarios remain inconsistent with the observed r-process abundance trend of disk stars in the Galaxy even with the uncertainties in BNS merger observations. Using stellar abundance observations instead of the short GRB constraints, we can infer a shorter BNS delay time distribution with power-law index α ≤ −2.0 and minimum delay time ${t}_{{\rm{\min }}}\leqslant 40$ Myr at 90% confidence, consistent with detailed Galactic chemical evolution models. Such delay times are in tension with those predicted by standard BNS formation models. Alternatively, we confirm that a two-channel scenario, in which the second channel tracks the star formation history without significant delay, can account for both Galactic stellar and short GRB observations. We estimate that 45%–90% of the r -process abundance in the Milky Way today would have been produced by this star formation-tracking channel, rather than BNS mergers with significant delay times.

gravitational wave astronomy↗

DOE OSTI2026

Presupernova O–C Shell Mergers Could Produce More 44 Ti than the Explosion

The formation of 44 Ti in massive stars is thought to occur during explosive nucleosynthesis; however, recent studies have shown it can be produced during O–C shell mergers prior to core collapse. We investigate how mixing according to 3D macrophysics derived from hydrodynamic simulations impacts presupernova O–C shell merger nucleosynthesis and if it can dominate explosive supernova production of 44 Ti and other radioactive isotopes. We compare a range of observations and models of explosive 44 Ti yields to preexplosive multizone mixing–burning nucleosynthesis simulations of an O–C shell merger in a 15 M ⊙ Z = 0.02 stellar model with mixing conditions corresponding to different 3D hydrodynamic mixing scenarios. Radioactive species produced in the O shell have a multidex spread in preexplosive yield predictions across different 3D mixing scenarios of 1.54 and 2.14 dex on average, depending on mass cut. 44 Ti has the largest spread of 4.78 and 4.81 dex depending on mass cut. Further, we show that the preexplosive production of 44 Ti can be larger than the explosive production of models and can match observations. Our results also show that 3D mixing physics enhances 44 Ti in 1D models without modifying 56 Ni yields. We conclude that quantitative predictions of 44 Ti and other radioactive species more broadly require an understanding of the 3D hydrodynamic mixing conditions present during the O–C shell merger.

Issa, Joshua [University of Victoria, BC (Canada);↗

DOE OSTI2020

Monte-Carlo Neutrino Transport in Neutron Star Merger Simulations

Gravitational waves and electromagnetic signals from merging neutron star binaries provide valuable information about the the properties of dense matter, the formation of heavy elements, and high-energy astrophysics. To fully leverage observations of these systems, we need numerical simulations that provide reliable predictions for the properties of the matter unbound in these mergers. An important limitation of current simulations is the use of approximate methods for neutrino transport that do not converge to a solution of the transport equations as numerical resolution increases, and thus have errors that are impossible to quantify. Here, we report on a first simulation of a binary neutron star merger that directly solves the transport equations using Monte-Carlo techniques. We demonstrate that a computationally cheap Monte-Carlo transport can be implemented without ill effects from sampling noise. We apply Monte-Carlo transport to an unequal mass neutron star binary merger up to 5ms past merger, and report on the properties of the matter and neutrino outflows. Finally, we compare our results to the output of our best approximate `M1' transport scheme, demonstrating that an M1 scheme that carefully approximates the neutrino energy spectrum only leads to ~10% uncertainty in the composition and velocity of the ejecta, and ~20% uncertainty in the electron (anti)neutrino luminosities and energies. Here, the most significant disagreement found between M1 and Monte-Carlo results is a factor of ~2 difference in the luminosity of heavy-lepton neutrinos.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2022

Hot Circumsingle Disks Drive Binary Black Hole Mergers in Active Galactic Nucleus Disks

Abstract Binary black hole (BBH) mergers, particularly those with component masses in the pair-instability gap, may be produced by hierarchical mergers in the disks surrounding Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs). While the interaction of an embedded BBH with an AGN disk is typically assumed to facilitate a merger, recent high-resolution hydrodynamical simulations challenge this assumption. However, these simulations often have simplified treatments for gas thermodynamics. In this work, we model the possible consequence of various feedback from an embedded BBH with a simple model that maintains an enhanced temperature profile around each binary component. We show that when the minidisks around each BH become hotter than the background by a factor of three, the BBH orbital evolution switches from expansion to contraction. By analyzing the gravitational torque profile, we find that this change in direction is driven by a weakening of the minidisk spirals and their positive torque on the binary. Our results highlight the important role of thermodynamics around BBHs and its effect on their orbital evolution, suggesting that AGN disks could be efficient factories for BBH mergers.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Nucleosynthesis in Outflows from Black Hole–Neutron Star Merger Disks with Full GR(ν)RMHD

Abstract Along with binary neutron star mergers, the inspiral and merger of a black hole and a neutron star is a predicted site of r -process nucleosynthesis and associated kilonovae. For the right mass ratio, very large amounts of neutron-rich material (relative to the dynamical ejecta) may become unbound from the post-merger accretion disk. We simulate a suite of four post-merger disks with three-dimensional general-relativistic magnetohydrodynamics with time-dependent Monte Carlo neutrino transport. We find that within 10 4 GM BH / c 3 (∼200–500 ms), the outflows from these disks are very close to the threshold conditions for robust r -process nucleosynthesis. For these conditions, the detailed properties of the outflow determine whether a full r -process can or cannot occur, implying that a wide range of observable phenomena is possible. We show that on average the disk outflow lanthanide fraction is suppressed relative to the solar isotopic pattern. In combination with the dynamical ejecta, these outflows imply a kilonova with both blue and red components.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2024

What Can We Learn about the Unstable Equation-of-state Branch from Neutron Star Mergers?

Abstract The equation of state (EOS) of dense strongly interacting matter can be probed by astrophysical observations of neutron stars (NS), such as X-ray detections of pulsars or the measurement of the tidal deformability of NSs during the inspiral stage of NS mergers. These observations constrain the EOS at most up to the density of the maximum-mass configuration, n TOV , which is the highest density that can be explored by stable NSs for a given EOS. However, under the right circumstances, binary neutron star (BNS) mergers can create a postmerger remnant that explores densities above n TOV . In this work, we explore whether the EOS above n TOV can be measured from gravitational-wave or electromagnetic observations of the postmerger remnant. We perform a total of 25 numerical-relativity simulations of BNS mergers for a range of EOSs and find no case in which different descriptions of the matter above n TOV have a detectable impact on postmerger observables. Hence, we conclude that the EOS above n TOV can likely not be probed through BNS merger observations for the current and next generation of detectors.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Fragmentation in Gravitationally Unstable Collapsar Disks and Subsolar Neutron Star Mergers

Abstract Although stable neutron stars (NSs) can in principle exist down to massesM ns ≈ 0.1M ⊙ , standard models of stellar core-collapse predict a robust lower limitM ns ≳ 1.2M ⊙ , roughly commensurate with the Chandrasekhar massM Ch of the progenitor’s iron core (electron fractionY e ≈ 0.5). However, this limit may be circumvented in sufficiently dense neutron-rich environments (Y e < 0.5) for which M Ch ∝ Y e 2 is reduced to ≲1M ⊙ . Such physical conditions could arise in the black hole accretion disks formed from the collapse of rapidly rotating stars (“collapsars”), as a result of gravitational instabilities and cooling-induced fragmentation, similar to models for planet formation in protostellar disks. We confirm that the conditions to form subsolar-mass NS (ssNS) may be marginally satisfied in the outer regions of massive neutrino-cooled collapsar disks. If the disk fragments into multiple ssNSs, their subsequent coalescence offers a channel for precipitating subsolar mass LIGO/Virgo gravitational-wave mergers that does not implicate primordial black holes. The model makes several additional predictions: (1) ∼Hz frequency Doppler modulation of the ssNS-merger gravitational-wave signals due to the binary’s orbital motion in the disk; (2) at least one additional gravitational-wave event (coincident within ≲hours), from the coalescence of the ssNS-merger remnant(s) with the central black hole; (3) an associated gamma-ray burst and supernova counterpart, the latter boosted in energy and enriched withr-process elements from the NS merger(s) embedded within the exploding stellar envelope (“kilonovae inside a supernova”).

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗

NASA NTRS1972

Department of Transportation Merger Policy

The policy of the Department of Transportation with respect to evaluating airline mergers is discussed. The subjects presented are: (1) statutory responsibilities of the Department of Transportation, (2) interrelationship of airline merger policy and overall airline policy, (3) executive branch criteria for domestic airline merger proposals, and position of Department of Transportation on several merger proceedings.

Gillick, J.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Structure of merger remnants. II - Progenitors with rotating bulges

Mergers of identical galaxies consisting of self-gravitating disks, bulges, and halos are examined in the context of the suggestion that such events may form elliptical galaxies. Unlike earlier studies, the simulations reported here include effects arising from intrinsic spin of bulges. It is found that the disks and bulges are able to redistribute their angular momentum so that the luminous remnants rotate slowly near their centers. In addition, if the bulges are sufficiently concentrated, the core radii of the remnants are significantly reduced relative to those of end-states formed in mergers between pure stellar disks to the extent that the remnants share structural properties with observed elliptical galaxies. Nevertheless, it does appear that stellar-dynamical mergers between spiral progenitors will represent a viable mechanism for the production of massive elliptical galaxies only if sufficient mass resides already in dense, spheroidal components. These results suggest that any ellipticals formed in this manner having featureless light profiles were victims of a 'disk-bulge conspiracy' analogous to the disk-halo conspiracy thought to give rise to smooth rotation curves in spiral galaxies. Possible observational signatures of mergers are discussed, along with implications of the findings for our understanding of galaxy formation and evolution.

Hernquist, Lars↗