# Three-Dimensional Supernova Explosion Simulations of 9-, 10-, 11-, 12-, and 13-M$_{\odot}$ Stars

## TL;DR

This study uses advanced 3D simulations to explore supernova explosions in stars of 9 to 13 solar masses, revealing a mass-dependent explodability gap and key factors influencing explosion mechanisms.

## Contribution

First 3D simulations of 9-13 solar mass stars showing explodability patterns and identifying critical factors for successful supernova explosions.

## Key findings

- Stars 9-12 M☉ explode easily in 3D
- Star 13 M☉ does not explode in simulations
- Explosions often have dipolar, asymmetric structures

## Abstract

Using the new state-of-the-art core-collapse supernova (CCSN) code F{\sc{ornax}}, we have simulated the three-dimensional dynamical evolution of the cores of 9-, 10-, 11-, 12-, and 13-M$_{\odot}$ stars from the onset of collapse. Stars from 8-M$_{\odot}$ to 13-M$_{\odot}$ constitute roughly 50% of all massive stars, so the explosive potential for this mass range is important to the overall theory of CCSNe. We find that the 9-, 10-, 11-, and 12-M$_{\odot}$ models explode in 3D easily, but that the 13-M$_{\odot}$ model does not. From these findings, and the fact that slightly more massive progenitors seem to explode \citep{vartanyan2019}, we suggest that there is a gap in explodability near 12-M$_{\odot}$ to 14-M$_{\odot}$ for non-rotating progenitor stars. Factors conducive to explosion are turbulence behind the stalled shock, energy transfer due to neutrino-matter absorption and neutrino-matter scattering, many-body corrections to the neutrino-nucleon scattering rate, and the presence of a sharp silicon-oxygen interface in the progenitor. Our 3D exploding models frequently have a dipolar structure, with the two asymmetrical exploding lobes separated by a pinched waist where matter temporarily continues to accrete. This process maintains the driving neutrino luminosty, while partially shunting matter out of the way of the expanding lobes, thereby modestly facilitating explosion. The morphology of all 3D explosions is characterized by multiple bubble structures with a range of low-order harmonic modes. Though much remains to be done in CCSN theory, these and other results in the literature suggest that, at least for these lower-mass progenitors, supernova theory is converging on a credible solution.