TY - JOUR
T1 - On the requirements for realistic modeling of neutrino transport in simulations of core-collapse supernovae
AU - Lentz, Eric J.
AU - Mezzacappa, Anthony
AU - Messer, O. E.Bronson
AU - Liebendörfer, Matthias
AU - Hix, W. Raphael
AU - Bruenn, Stephen W.
PY - 2012/3/1
Y1 - 2012/3/1
N2 - We have conducted a series of numerical experiments with the spherically symmetric, general relativistic, neutrino radiation hydrodynamics code AGILE-BOLTZTRAN to examine the effects of several approximations used in multidimensional core-collapse supernova simulations. Our code permits us to examine the effects of these approximations quantitatively by removing, or substituting for, the pieces of supernova physics of interest. These approximations include: (1) using Newtonian versus general relativistic gravity, hydrodynamics, and transport; (2) using a reduced set of weak interactions, including the omission of non-isoenergetic neutrino scattering, versus the current state-of-the-art; and (3) omitting the velocity-dependent terms, or observer corrections, from the neutrino Boltzmann kinetic equation. We demonstrate that each of these changes has noticeable effects on the outcomes of our simulations. Of these, we find that the omission of observer corrections is particularly detrimental to the potential for neutrino-driven explosions and exhibits a failure to conserve lepton number. Finally, we discuss the impact of these results on our understanding of current, and the requirements for future, multidimensional models.
AB - We have conducted a series of numerical experiments with the spherically symmetric, general relativistic, neutrino radiation hydrodynamics code AGILE-BOLTZTRAN to examine the effects of several approximations used in multidimensional core-collapse supernova simulations. Our code permits us to examine the effects of these approximations quantitatively by removing, or substituting for, the pieces of supernova physics of interest. These approximations include: (1) using Newtonian versus general relativistic gravity, hydrodynamics, and transport; (2) using a reduced set of weak interactions, including the omission of non-isoenergetic neutrino scattering, versus the current state-of-the-art; and (3) omitting the velocity-dependent terms, or observer corrections, from the neutrino Boltzmann kinetic equation. We demonstrate that each of these changes has noticeable effects on the outcomes of our simulations. Of these, we find that the omission of observer corrections is particularly detrimental to the potential for neutrino-driven explosions and exhibits a failure to conserve lepton number. Finally, we discuss the impact of these results on our understanding of current, and the requirements for future, multidimensional models.
KW - methods: numerical
KW - neutrinos
KW - radiative transfer
KW - supernovae: general
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84857325971&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1088/0004-637X/747/1/73
DO - 10.1088/0004-637X/747/1/73
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84857325971
SN - 0004-637X
VL - 747
JO - Astrophysical Journal
JF - Astrophysical Journal
IS - 1
M1 - 73
ER -