Coupling of matter and radiation at supernova shock breakout

TL;DR

This paper discusses the physics of radiation-dominated shock waves in supernova shock breakouts, introduces a new photon transfer algorithm, and presents simulation results of light curves and spectra, including potential X-ray emissions.

Contribution

It introduces the RADA algorithm for modeling photon transfer at relativistic speeds and integrates it into the STELLA code for supernova shock breakout simulations.

Findings

Simulated light curves and spectra for different supernova types.

Identification of conditions for hard X-ray emission at shock breakout.

Impact of photon scattering and relativistic effects on observables.

Abstract

Some features of the physics of radiation-dominated shock waves are discussed with emphasis on the peculiarities which are important for correct numerical modeling of shock breakouts in supernova. With account of those peculiarities, a number of models for different supernova types is constructed based on multigroup radiation transfer coupled to hydrodynamics. We describe the implementation of a new algorithm RADA, designed for modeling photon transfer at extremely-relativistic motions of matter, into our older code STELLA. The results of numerical simulations of light curves, and continuum spectra are presented. The influence of effects of photon scattering on electrons, of thermalization depth and of special relativity in transfer equation is considered. Some cases are demonstrated, when the appearance of hard X-ray emission is possible at the shock breakout. The necessary refinements in numerical algorithms for radiative transfer and hydrodynamics are pointed out. Prospects for using the results of numerical simulation to analyze and interpret available and future data from space observatories are discussed.