Dr. Qhi-he Peng
Nanjing University

University of Florida Astronomy Colloquium - Sep 13th, 2005

A New Explosion Mechanism for Core Collapsed Supernovae

The question as to the explosion mechanism of SNII is a puzzle that is still currently open. A new suggestion for the explosion mechanism of SNII is the basis for my talk. The main idea is as follows: a) A condition that "timescale of the electron capture is shorter than the hydrodynamic (collapse) timescale" is taken as the new criterion for beginning the fast collapse of the SN core. b) The prompt explosion mechanism is valid for the rapidly collapsing core.Both the outgoing (rebounded) shock wave and the neutrino flux will travel through the core. c) There is a "vacuum region with high temperature" between the rapidly collapsing core and the remaining slowly contracting iron core of the pre-supernova. d) The slowly contracting iron core, the mantle and the atmosphere of the pre-supernova will be blown out by the radiation pressure of the outgoing shock wave and by the kick of the neutrino flux through the interactions between neutrinos and the iron group nuclei. This is the supernova explosion. Following our new idea, some improved simulations on a failing prompt explosion model of SNII have been made. The calculated results demonstrate that our new idea may be useful for explaining SN explosions.