Computer Code Gives Astrophysicists First Full Simulation of Star's Final Hours

The precise conditions inside a white dwarf star in the hours leading up to its explosive end as a Type Ia supernova are one of the mysteries confronting astrophysicists studying these massive stellar explosions. But now, a team of researchers, composed of three applied mathematicians at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and two astrophysicists, has created the first full-star simulation of the hours preceding the largest thermonuclear explosions in the universe. http://www.lbl.gov/cs/Archive/news091509.html

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• astrophysics
• computing
• supernova
• star
• Berkeley Lab

[mjusiqtube]

Thanks. This is beautiful and interesting science. I got tears of amazement. :-)