Ultra-delayed neutrino-driven explosion of rotating massive-star collapse

TL;DR

This study uses advanced simulations to show that rotating massive stars can produce extremely delayed, energetic neutrino-driven supernova explosions, leading to black hole formation and potential gamma-ray bursts.

Contribution

It demonstrates the long-term evolution of rotating massive-star collapse with detailed general relativistic neutrino-radiation hydrodynamics, revealing delayed explosion mechanisms.

Findings

Delayed neutrino-driven explosions with energies >10^{52} erg.

Formation of a massive, rapidly spinning black hole.

Potential connection to gamma-ray burst engines.

Abstract

Long-term neutrino-radiation hydrodynamics simulations in full general relativity are performed for the collapse of rotating massive stars that are evolved from He-stars with their initial mass of $20$ and $32M_\odot$. It is shown that if the collapsing stellar core has sufficient angular momentum, the rotationally-supported proto-neutron star (PNS) survives for seconds accompanying the formation of a massive torus of mass larger than $1\,M_\odot$. Subsequent mass accretion onto the central region produces a massive and compact central object, and eventually enhances the neutrino luminosity beyond $10^{53}$\,erg/s, resulting in a very delayed neutrino-driven explosion in particular toward the polar direction. The kinetic energy of the explosion can be appreciably higher than $10^{52}$ erg for a massive progenitor star and compatible with that of energetic supernovae like broad-line type-Ic supernovae. By the subsequent accretion, the massive PNS collapses eventually into a rapidly spinning black hole, which could be a central engine for gamma-ray bursts if a massive torus surrounds it.