Signals of the QCD phase transition in core-collapse supernovae

Understand

We explore the implications of the QCD phase transition during the postbounce evolution of core-collapse supernovae.

• Using the MIT bag model for the description of quark matter and assuming small bag constants, we find that the phase transition occurs during the early postbounce accretion phase.
• This stage of the evolution can be simulated with general relativistic three-flavor Boltzmann neutrino transport.
• The phase transition produces a second shock wave that triggers a delayed supernova explosion.