Nucleosynthetic Yields from "Collapsars"

TL;DR

This paper presents the first 3D simulation of a collapsar, revealing differences from 2D models and implications for nucleosynthetic yields in gamma-ray burst progenitors.

Contribution

It introduces a novel 3D simulation of collapsar formation and explosion, highlighting differences from previous 2D models and discussing new strategies for nucleosynthesis calculations.

Findings

3D simulations show significant differences from 2D models

Impacts on nucleosynthetic yield predictions

Comparison with hypernova yields

Abstract

The "collapsar" engine for gamma-ray bursts invokes as its energy source the failure of a normal supernova and the formation of a black hole. Here we present the results of the first three-dimensional simulation of the collapse of a massive star down to a black hole, including the subsequent accretion and explosion. The explosion differs significantly from the axisymmetric scenario obtained in two-dimensional simulations; this has important consequences for the nucleosynthetic yields. We compare the nucleosynthetic yields to those of hypernovae. Calculating yields from three-dimensional explosions requires new strategies in post-process nucleosynthesis; we discuss NuGrid's plan for three-dimensional yields.