Lecture 35

Type Ia Supernova Physics

• white dwarf accretion
• thermonuclear explosion
• nucleosynthesis: iron peak
• models U Chicago 3-D simulation
• population studies: everbody makes a Type Ia!

Type Ia Supernova: Open Questions

• who is the progenitor? single- vs double-degenerate
• detonation--deflagration transition?
• origin of lightcurve universality, diversity?
• environmental/evolutionary effects on lightcurve standardization?
• future Type Ia proble: LISA

Supernova Nucleosynthesis and Abundance Evolution

• timescale for core-collapse, thermonuclear explosions
• encodeing in solar abundances
• comparison with halo star abundances

Beyond the Iron Peak

Neutron Capture Processes

• s-process
• r-process
• neutron capture cross sections
• paths on the chart of the nuclides

Neutron Capture Rates

The s-Process

• basic physics
• path on the chart of the nuclides
• encoding in solar abundances
• searching for a site: characteristic scales
• identifying the site: S-stars
• the crown jewel (cf chart of the nuclides)