Physics Master of Science Thesis Defense by Divyanshu Singh
Physics Master of Science Thesis Defense by Divyanshu Singh
Date: Friday, May 2, 2025
Time: 11am
Topic: Hydrodynamical Simulations of Helium-ignited Binary White Dwarf Mergers
Location: SENG 201
Abstract:
Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) are considered some of the brightest transients in the universe, making them a preferred choice to measure distances to galaxies, and serve as standardizable candles. Despite their prominence, the explosion mechanism and stars which give rise to SNe Ia remain a mystery. Recent research has focused on the role which thin surface layers of helium accreted from a secondary white dwarf on to the surface of a primary white dwarf star may cause first a surface helium detonation and then a core detonation and thereby give rise to a Type Ia supernova event. The focus of this thesis is upon 3D hydrodynamical simulations of this model, and a comparison of the outcomes between the adaptive mesh refinement FLASH and moving mesh AREPO codes.
Advisor(s): Dr. Robert Fisher, Department of Physics
Committee members:
Dr. David Kagan, Department of Physics
Dr. Sarah Caudill, Department of Physics
NOTE: All PHY Graduate Students are ENCOURAGED to attend.
SENG 201