Explosion Mechanism of Core-collapse Supernovae: Role of the Si/Si–O Interface

• Published in: The Astrophysical journal 2023-05, Vol.949 (1), p.17
• Main Authors: Boccioli, Luca, Roberti, Lorenzo, Limongi, Marco, Mathews, Grant J., Chieffi, Alessandro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Astronomy & Astrophysics; ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS; Astrophysics; Core-collapse supernovae; Criteria; Density; Entropy; Explosions; Gravitational collapse; Massive stars; Progenitors (astrophysics); Stellar evolution; Supernova; Supernova dynamics; Supernova neutrinos; Supernovae; Time dependence; Turbulence
• ISSN: 0004-637X; 1538-4357
• DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/acc06a

We present a simple criterion to predict the explodability of massive stars based on the density and entropy profiles before collapse. If a pronounced density jump is present near the Si/Si–O interface, the star will likely explode. We develop a quantitative criterion by using ∼1300 1D simulations where ν -driven turbulence is included via time-dependent mixing-length theory. This criterion correctly identifies the outcome of the supernova more than 90% of the time. We also find no difference in how this criterion performs on two different sets of progenitors, evolved using two different stellar evolution codes: FRANEC and KEPLER. The explodability as a function of mass of the two sets of progenitors is very different, showing: (i) that uncertainties in the stellar evolution prescriptions influence the predictions of supernova explosions; (ii) the most important properties of the pre-collapse progenitor that influence the explodability are its density and entropy profiles. We highlight the importance that ν -driven turbulence plays in the explosion by comparing our results to previous works.