Revival of the Fittest: Exploding Core-Collapse Supernovae from 12 to 25 M$_{\odot}$

Understand

We present results of 2D axisymmetric core-collapse supernova simulations, employing the FORNAX code, of nine progenitor models spanning 12 to 25 M$_{\odot}$ and evolved over a 20,000-km grid.

• We find that four of the nine models explode with inelastic scattering off electrons and neutrons as well as the many-body correction to neutrino-nucleon scattering opacities.
• We show that these four models feature sharp Si-O interfaces in their density profiles, and that the corresponding dip in density reduces the accretion rate around the stalled shock and prompts explosion.
• The non-exploding models lack such a steep feature, suggesting that Si-O interface is one key to explosion.