The Mechanism of Core-Collapse Supernova Explosions: A Status Report

Abstract

We review the status of the current quest to understand the mechanism of core-collapse supernovae, if neutrino-driven. In the process, we discuss the spherical explosion paradigm and its problems, some results from our new suite of collapse calculations performed using a recently-developed 1D implicit, multi-group, Feautrier/tangent-ray, Boltzmann solver coupled to explicit predictor/corrector hydrodynamics, the basic energetics of supernova explosions, and the promise of multi-D radiation/hydro simulations to explain why the cores of massive stars explode.

10 pages, LaTeX, 4 JPEGs included. To be published in the proceedings to the ESO/MPA/MPE Workshop (an ESO Astrophysics Symposium) entitled "From Twilight to Highlight: The Physics of Supernovae," held in Garching bei München, Germany, July 29-31, 2002, eds. Bruno Leibundgut and Wolfgang Hillebrandt (Springer-Verlag)