A 3D radiative transfer framework

IX. Time dependence

¹ Hamburger Sternwarte, Gojenbergsweg 112, 21029 Hamburg, Germany
e-mail: djack@hs.uni-hamburg.de; yeti@hs.uni-hamburg.de
² Departamento de Astronomía, Universidad de Guanajuato, Apartado Postal 144, 36000 Guanajuato, Mexico
³ Homer L. Dodge Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Oklahoma, 440 W Brooks, Rm 100, Norman, OK 73019-2061, USA
e-mail: baron@ou.edu

Received: 26 September 2011
Accepted: 29 August 2012

Abstract

Context. Time-dependent, 3D radiation transfer calculations are important for the modeling of a variety of objects, from supernovae and novae to simulations of stellar variability and activity. Furthermore, time-dependent calculations can be used to obtain a 3D radiative equilibrium model structure via relaxation in time.

Aims. We extend our 3D radiative transfer framework to include direct time dependence of the radiation field; i.e., the ∂I/∂t terms are fully considered in the solution of radiative transfer problems.

Methods. We build on the framework that we have described in previous papers in this series and develop a subvoxel method for the ∂I/∂t terms.

Results. We test the implementation by comparing the 3D results to our well tested 1D time dependent radiative transfer code in spherical symmetry. A simple 3D test model is also presented.

Conclusions. The 3D time dependent radiative transfer method is now included in our 3D RT framework and in PHOENIX/3D.