Unexpected Outbursts from Massive Stars

Event Date:
2023-02-27T15:00:00
2023-02-27T16:00:00
Event Location:
HENN 318
Speaker:
Dr. Chris Matzner (University of Toronto)
Related Upcoming Events:
Intended Audience:
Public
Local Contact:

Dr. Allison Man (aman@phas.ubc.ca)

*All are welcome at this event!

Event Information:

 

Abstract:

This talk will focus on two somewhat unusual types of shock dynamics associated with core-collapse supernovae:

1. "Bells, not whistles": Some massive stars appear to undergo shock-driven outbursts before their cores collapse. I will show that nonlinear acoustics rules out a standard explanation for how these events are driven, a result that deepens the mystery of their origin.

2. "Flares from Asphericity": Compact supernovae have a unique potential to make especially fast, even relativistic, surface flows, even if they are spherical. But they often are not spherical, and this fact has complicated consequences.  I will discuss whether one consequence -- the collision of ejecta streams -- creates a new class of observable flare.

Bio:

I am a professor of theoretical astrophysics at the University of Toronto, working on the fluid dynamics of gravitational collapse and energetic feedback in:
 -  star and star cluster formation,
 -  molecular cloud evolution and the interstellar medium,
 -  black hole formation and accretion,
 -  stellar tidal disruptions,
 -  supernovae, gamma-ray bursts, and related transients.

 

Learn more:

See Dr. Matzner's website here

Enjoy his list of "Resources for the ambitious undergraduate or beginning graduate researcher in Astronomy & Astrophysics" here!

 

Add to Calendar 2023-02-27T15:00:00 2023-02-27T16:00:00 Unexpected Outbursts from Massive Stars Event Information:   Abstract: This talk will focus on two somewhat unusual types of shock dynamics associated with core-collapse supernovae: 1. "Bells, not whistles": Some massive stars appear to undergo shock-driven outbursts before their cores collapse. I will show that nonlinear acoustics rules out a standard explanation for how these events are driven, a result that deepens the mystery of their origin. 2. "Flares from Asphericity": Compact supernovae have a unique potential to make especially fast, even relativistic, surface flows, even if they are spherical. But they often are not spherical, and this fact has complicated consequences.  I will discuss whether one consequence -- the collision of ejecta streams -- creates a new class of observable flare. Bio: I am a professor of theoretical astrophysics at the University of Toronto, working on the fluid dynamics of gravitational collapse and energetic feedback in:  -  star and star cluster formation,  -  molecular cloud evolution and the interstellar medium,  -  black hole formation and accretion,  -  stellar tidal disruptions,  -  supernovae, gamma-ray bursts, and related transients.   Learn more: See Dr. Matzner's website here Enjoy his list of "Resources for the ambitious undergraduate or beginning graduate researcher in Astronomy & Astrophysics" here!   Event Location: HENN 318