Comparisons of Two- and Three-Dimensional Convection in Type I X-ray Bursts

TL;DR

This paper presents the first detailed 3D simulations of low Mach number convection in Type I X-ray bursts, highlighting differences from 2D models and capturing key nuclear burning processes.

Contribution

It introduces the first comprehensive 3D simulation of convection in X-ray bursts, including a nuclear network for hydrogen and helium burning.

Findings

3D convection differs significantly from 2D in turbulence details

Simulations successfully model hydrogen and helium burning up to rp-process breakout

Provides insights into turbulent convection in X-ray burst precursors

Abstract

We perform the first detailed three-dimensional simulation of low Mach number convection preceding thermonuclear ignition in a mixed H/He X-ray burst. Our simulations include a moderate-sized, approximate network that captures hydrogen and helium burning up through rp-process breakout. We look in detail at the difference between two- and three-dimensional convective fields, including the details of the turbulent convection.