Appearance of Light Clusters in Post-bounce Evolution of Core-Collapse Supernovae

TL;DR

This paper investigates the formation and distribution of light clusters in core-collapse supernovae using a quantum statistical approach, revealing their potential impact on neutrino processes and supernova dynamics.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed quantum statistical model for light cluster abundances in supernova matter, considering continuum correlations and medium effects.

Findings

Light clusters, including deuterons and tritons, are abundant in supernova cores.

Light clusters may significantly influence neutrino emission and absorption.

The presence of clusters could affect the supernova explosion mechanism.

Abstract

We explore the abundance of light clusters in core-collapse supernovae at post-bounce stage in a quantum statistical approach. Adopting the profile of a supernova core from detailed numerical simulations, we study the distribution of light bound clusters up to alpha particles (A=2-4) as well as heavy nuclei (A > 4) in dense matter at finite temperature. Within the frame of a cluster-mean field approach, the abundances of light clusters are evaluated accounting for self-energy, Pauli blocking and effects of continuum correlations. We find that deuterons and tritons, in addition to 3He and 4He, appear abundantly in a wide region from the surface of the proto-neutron star to the position of the shock wave. The appearance of light clusters may modify the neutrino emission in the cooling region and the neutrino absorption in the heating region, and, thereby, influence the supernova mechanism.