John M. Blondin

Bio: John M. Blondin is an academic researcher from North Carolina State University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Supernova & Supernova remnant. The author has an hindex of 56, co-authored 177 publications receiving 9739 citations. Previous affiliations of John M. Blondin include University of Chicago & University of Virginia.

Stability of Standing Accretion Shocks, with an Eye toward Core-Collapse Supernovae

Abstract: We examine the stability of standing, spherical accretion shocks. Accretion shocks arise in core-collapse supernovae (the focus of this paper), star formation, and accreting white dwarfs and neutron stars. We present a simple analytic model and use time-dependent hydrodynamics simulations to show that this solution is stable to radial perturbations. In two dimensions we show that small perturbations to a spherical shock front can lead to rapid growth of turbulence behind the shock, driven by the injection of vorticity from the now nonspherical shock. We discuss the ramifications this instability may have for the supernova mechanism.

Colliding Winds from Early-Type Stars in Binary Systems

Abstract: The dynamics of the wind and shock structure formed by the wind collision in early-type binary systems is examined by means of a 2D hydrodynamics code, which self-consistently accounts for radiative cooling, and represents a significant improvement over previous attempts to model these systems. The X-ray luminosity and spectra of the shock-heated region, accounting for wind attenuation and the influence of different abundances on the resultant level and spectra of X-ray emission are calculated. A variety of dynamical instabilities that are found to dominate the intershock region is examined. These instabilities are found to be particularly important when postshock material is able to cool. These instabilities disrupt the postshock flow and add a time variability of order 10 percent to the X-ray luminosity. The X-ray spectrum of these systems is found to vary with the nuclear abundances of winds. These theoretical models are used to study several massive binary systems, in particular V444 Cyg and HD 193793.

Pulsar wind nebulae in evolved supernova remnants

Abstract: For pulsars similar to the one in the Crab Nebula, most of the energy input to the surrounding wind nebula occurs on a timescale 103 yr; during this time, the nebula expands into freely expanding supernova ejecta. On a timescale ~104 yr, the interaction of the supernova with the surrounding medium drives a reverse shock front toward the center of the remnant, where it crushes the pulsar wind nebula (PWN). We have carried out one- and two-dimensional, two-fluid simulations of the crushing and reexpansion phases of a PWN. We show that (1) these phases are subject to Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities that result in the mixing of thermal and nonthermal fluids, and (2) asymmetries in the surrounding interstellar medium give rise to asymmetries in the position of the PWN relative to the pulsar and explosion site. These effects are expected to be observable in the radio emission from evolved PWN because of the long lifetimes of radio-emitting electrons. The scenario can explain the chaotic and asymmetric appearance of the Vela X PWN relative to the Vela pulsar without recourse to a directed flow from the vicinity of the pulsar. The displacement of the radio nebulae in G327.1-1.1, MSH 15-56 (G326.3-1.8), G0.9+0.1, and W44 relative to the X-ray nebulae may be due to this mechanism. On timescales much greater than the nebular crushing time, the initial PWN may be mixed with thermal gas and become unobservable, so that even the radio emission is dominated by recently injected particles.

Transition to the Radiative Phase in Supernova Remnants

Abstract: The evolution of a supernova remnant through the transition from an adiabatic Sedov-Taylor blast wave to a radiative pressure-driven snowplow phase is studied using one- and two-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations. This transition is marked by a catastrophic collapse of the postshock gas, forming a thin, dense shell behind the forward shock. After the transition, the shock front is characterized by a deceleration parameter, Vt/R ≈ 0.33, which is considerably higher than the analytic estimate of for a pressure-driven snowplow. In two dimensions, the catastrophic collapse is accompanied by violent dynamical instabilities of the thin, cool shell. The violence of the collapse and the subsequent instability of the shell increase with increasing ambient density. Preshock density perturbations as small as 1% in an ambient medium with density of 100 cm-3 can lead to distortions of the shock front larger than 10% of the radius of the remnant.

Three-dimensional Core-collapse Supernova Simulated Using a 15 M⊙ Progenitor

Abstract: We have performed ab initio neutrino radiation hydrodynamics simulations in three and two spatial dimensions (3D and 2D) of core-collapse supernovae from the same 15 M⊙ progenitor through 440 ms after core bounce. Both 3D and 2D models achieve explosions; however, the onset of explosion (shock revival) is delayed by ~100 ms in 3D relative to the 2D counterpart and the growth of the diagnostic explosion energy is slower. This is consistent with previously reported 3D simulations utilizing iron-core progenitors with dense mantles. In the ~100 ms before the onset of explosion, diagnostics of neutrino heating and turbulent kinetic energy favor earlier explosion in 2D. During the delay, the angular scale of convective plumes reaching the shock surface grows and explosion in 3D is ultimately lead by a single, large-angle plume, giving the expanding shock a directional orientation not dissimilar from those imposed by axial symmetry in 2D simulations. Finally, we posit that shock revival and explosion in the 3D simulation may be delayed until sufficiently large plumes form, whereas such plumes form more rapidly in 2D, permitting earlier explosions.

The Observation of Gravitational Waves from a Binary Black Hole Merger

Abstract: On September 14, 2015 at 09:50:45 UTC the two detectors of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory simultaneously observed a transient gravitational-wave signal. The signal sweeps upwards in frequency from 35 to 250 Hz with a peak gravitational-wave strain of 1.0×10(-21). It matches the waveform predicted by general relativity for the inspiral and merger of a pair of black holes and the ringdown of the resulting single black hole. The signal was observed with a matched-filter signal-to-noise ratio of 24 and a false alarm rate estimated to be less than 1 event per 203,000 years, equivalent to a significance greater than 5.1σ. The source lies at a luminosity distance of 410(-180)(+160) Mpc corresponding to a redshift z=0.09(-0.04)(+0.03). In the source frame, the initial black hole masses are 36(-4)(+5)M⊙ and 29(-4)(+4)M⊙, and the final black hole mass is 62(-4)(+4)M⊙, with 3.0(-0.5)(+0.5)M⊙c(2) radiated in gravitational waves. All uncertainties define 90% credible intervals. These observations demonstrate the existence of binary stellar-mass black hole systems. This is the first direct detection of gravitational waves and the first observation of a binary black hole merger.

Linear and nonlinear waves, by G. B. Whitham. Pp.636. £50. 1999. ISBN 0 471 35942 4 (Wiley).

Abstract: to be done in this area. Face recognition is a problem that scarcely clamoured for attention before the computer age but, having surfaced, has involved a wide range of techniques and has attracted the attention of some fine minds (David Mumford was a Fields Medallist in 1974). This singular application of mathematical modelling to a messy applied problem of obvious utility and importance but with no unique solution is a pretty one to share with students: perhaps, returning to the source of our opening quotation, we may invert Duncan's earlier observation, 'There is an art to find the mind's construction in the face!'.

Collapsars: Gamma-ray bursts and explosions in 'failed supernovae'

Abstract: Using a two-dimensional hydrodynamics code (PROMETHEUS), we explore the continued evolution of rotating helium stars, Mα 10 M☉, in which iron-core collapse does not produce a successful outgoing shock but instead forms a black hole of 2-3 M☉. The model explored in greatest detail is the 14 M☉ helium core of a 35 M☉ main-sequence star. The outcome is sensitive to the angular momentum. For j16 ≡ j/(1016 cm2 s-1) 3, material falls into the black hole almost uninhibited. No outflows are expected. For j16 20, the infalling matter is halted by centrifugal force outside 1000 km where neutrino losses are negligible. The equatorial accretion rate is very low, and explosive oxygen burning may power a weak equatorial explosion. For 3 j16 20, however, a reasonable value for such stars, a compact disk forms at a radius at which the gravitational binding energy can be efficiently radiated as neutrinos or converted to beamed outflow by magnetohydrodynamical (MHD) processes. These are the best candidates for producing gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Here we study the formation of such a disk, the associated flow patterns, and the accretion rate for disk viscosity parameter α ≈ 0.001 and 0.1. Infall along the rotational axis is initially uninhibited, and an evacuated channel opens during the first few seconds. Meanwhile the black hole is spun up by the accretion (to a ≈ 0.9), and energy is dissipated in the disk by MHD processes and radiated by neutrinos. For the α = 0.1 model, appreciable energetic outflows develop between polar angles of 30° and 45°. These outflows, powered by viscous dissipation in the disk, have an energy of up to a few times 1051 ergs and a mass ~1 M☉ and are rich in 56Ni. They constitute a supernova-like explosion by themselves. Meanwhile accretion through the disk is maintained for approximately 10-20 s but is time variable (±30%) because of hydrodynamical instabilities at the outer edge in a region where nuclei are experiencing photodisintegration. Because the efficiency of neutrino energy deposition is sensitive to the accretion rate, this instability leads to highly variable energy deposition in the polar regions. Some of this variability, which has significant power at 50 ms and overtones, may persist in the time structure of the burst. During the time followed, the average accretion rate for the standard α = 0.1 and j16 = 10 model is 0.07 M☉ s-1. The total energy deposited along the rotational axes by neutrino annihilation is (1-14) × 1051 ergs, depending upon the evolution of the Kerr parameter and uncertain neutrino efficiencies. Simulated deposition of energy in the polar regions, at a constant rate of 5 × 1050 ergs s-1 per pole, results in strong relativistic outflow jets beamed to about 1% of the sky. These jets may be additionally modulated by instabilities in the sides of the "nozzle" through which they flow. The jets blow aside the accreting material, remain highly focused, and are capable of penetrating the star in ~10 s. After the jet breaks through the surface of the star, highly relativistic flow can emerge. Because of the sensitivity of the mass ejection and jets to accretion rate, angular momentum, and disk viscosity, and the variation of observational consequences with viewing angle, a large range of outcomes is possible, ranging from bright GRBs like GRB 971214 to faint GRB-supernovae like SN 1998bw. X-ray precursors are also possible as the jet first breaks out of the star. While only a small fraction of supernovae make GRBs, we predict that collapsars will always make supernovae similar to SN 1998bw. However, hard, energetic GRBs shorter than a few seconds will be difficult to produce in this model and may require merging neutron stars and black holes for their explanation.

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Abstract: Monthly Notices is one of the three largest general primary astronomical research publications. It is an international journal, published by the Royal Astronomical Society. This article 1 describes its publication policy and practice.

How Massive Single Stars End Their Life

Abstract: How massive stars die-what sort of explosion and remnant each produces-depends chiefly on the masses of their helium cores and hydrogen envelopes at death. For single stars, stellar winds are the only means of mass loss, and these are a function of the metallicity of the star. We discuss how metallicity, and a simplified prescription for its effect on mass loss, affects the evolution and final fate of massive stars. We map, as a function of mass and metallicity, where black holes and neutron stars are likely to form and where different types of supernovae are produced. Integrating over an initial mass function, we derive the relative populations as a function of metallicity. Provided that single stars rotate rapidly enough at death, we speculate on stellar populations that might produce gamma-ray bursts and jet-driven supernovae.