National Center for Computational Sciences

PI: Stan Woosley, University of California–Santa Cruz

The purpose of this project is to study four key stages of Type Ia supernovas: the long-time convection that leads to ignition of the first flames; the propagation of these resultant flame(s) through the star, leading to the explosion itself; and finally, the radiation-dominated phase at the end of the explosion. This is an especially relevant problem in astrophysics today. By acting as standard candles, Type Ia supernovas have been at the forefront of a revolution in modern cosmology, leading to the discovery that the expansion rate of the universe is accelerating. It is anticipated that the proposed set of calculations will produce the most detailed picture of Type Ia supernovas to date.