Refined numerical models for multidimensional type Ia supernova simulations

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

Corresponding author: M. Reinecke, martin@mpa-garching.mpg.de

Received: 15 October 2001
Accepted: 28 February 2002

Abstract

Following up on earlier work on this topic (Reinecke et al. [CITE],a), we present an improved set of numerical models for simulations of white dwarfs exploding as type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia). Two-dimensional simulations were used to test the reliability and numerical robustness of these algorithms; the results indicate that integral quantities like the total energy release are insensitive to changes of the grid resolution (above a certain threshold), which was not the case for our former code. The models were further enhanced to allow fully three-dimensional simulations of SNe Ia. A direct comparison of a 2D and a 3D calculation with identical initial conditions shows that the explosion is considerably more energetic in three dimensions; this is most likely caused by the assumption of axisymmetry in 2D, which inhibits the growth of flame instabilities in the azimuthal direction and thereby decreases the flame surface.