3D Hydrodynamics of Pre-supernova Outbursts in Convective Red Supergiant Envelopes

Understand

Eruptive mass loss likely produces the energetic outbursts observed from some massive stars before they undergo core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe).

• The resulting dense circumstellar medium (CSM) may also cause the subsequent SNe to be observed as Type IIn events.
• The leading hypothesis of the cause of these outbursts is the response of the envelope of the red supergiant (RSG) progenitor to energy deposition in the months to years prior to collapse.
• Early theoretical studies of this phenomena were limited to 1D, leaving the 3D convective RSG structure unaddressed.