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A&A 391, 1167-1172 (2002)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20020885

Three-dimensional simulations of type Ia supernovae

M. Reinecke, W. Hillebrandt and J. C. Niemeyer

Max-Planck-Institut für Astrophysik, Karl-Schwarzschild-Str. 1, 85741 Garching, Germany

(Received 25 April 2002 / Accepted 11 June 2002)

Abstract
We present the results of three-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations of the subsonic thermonuclear burning phase in type Ia supernovae. The burning front model contains no adjustable parameters so that variations of the explosion outcome can be linked directly to changes in the initial conditions. In particular, we investigate the influence of the initial flame geometry on the explosion energy and find that it appears to be weaker than in 2D. Most importantly, our models predict global properties such as the produced nickel masses and ejecta velocities within their observed ranges without any fine tuning.

Key words: supernovae: general -- hydrodynamics -- turbulence -- nuclear reactions, nucleosynthesis, abundances -- methods: numerical

Offprint request: M. Reinecke, martin@mpa-garching.mpg.de

© ESO 2002

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