Probing the gravitational well: No supernova explosion in spherical symmetry with general relativistic Boltzmann neutrino transport

Abstract

We report on the stellar core collapse, bounce, and postbounce evolution of a 13 solar mass star in a self-consistent general relativistic spherically symmetric simulation based on Boltzmann neutrino transport. We conclude that approximations to exact neutrino transport and omission of general relativistic effects were not alone responsible for the failure of numerous preceding attempts to model supernova explosions in spherical symmetry. Compared to simulations in Newtonian gravity, the general relativistic simulation results in a smaller shock radius. We however argue that the higher neutrino luminosities and rms energies in the general relativistic case could lead to a larger supernova explosion energy.

16 pages including 9 figures, Phys. Rev. D (in press)