Physics Commons^™

Nucleosynthesis In Core-Collapse Supernovae, Rachel E Mersch

EURēCA: Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement

A Core-Collapse Supernova explosion occurs when nuclear fusion stops in the core of a massive star. Without a source of energy supplying enough pressure to balance gravity, the core becomes unstable and collapses to form a neutron star. Beyond the neutron star, a shockwave forms which moves outward through the star, causing heavier elements to be created through nuclear fusion. We have been studying the elements that are ejected from a Core-Collapse Supernova using a nuclear code network called XNet, which follows the thermonuclear kinetics. We use the results from a code called Chimera, which explores the mechanism of Core-Collapse …