A new model for deflagration fronts in reactive fluids

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel level set method for modeling deflagration fronts in reactive fluids, specifically applied to turbulent thermonuclear flames in white dwarfs during Type Ia supernovae, enabling accurate coupling of front geometry and flow dynamics.

Contribution

The paper presents a new level set modeling approach for deflagration fronts that can be applied to astrophysical and chemical combustion problems, with demonstrated physical correctness.

Findings

Successfully modeled deflagration fronts in supernova simulations

Demonstrated the method's applicability to chemical hydrogen combustion

Provided initial results showing accurate front behavior in test cases

Abstract

We present a new way of modeling deflagration fronts in reactive fluids, the main emphasis being on turbulent thermonuclear deflagration fronts in white dwarfs undergoing a Type Ia supernova explosion. Our approach is based on a level set method which treats the front as a mathematical discontinuity and allows full coupling between the front geometry and the flow field. With only minor modifications, this method can also be applied to describe contact discontinuities. Two different implementations are described and their physically correct behaviour for simple testcases is shown. First results of the method applied to the concrete problems of Type Ia supernovae and chemical hydrogen combustion are briefly discussed; a more extensive analysis of our astrophysical simulations is given in (Reinecke et al. 1998, MPA Green Report 1122b).