Title: Twinkle Twinkle Dying Star: Massive Stars Bridging Numerical Simulations and Time-domain Observables
Abstract:We are living in the Renaissance of stellar astrophysics. This is empowered by time-domain surveys collecting unprecedented amounts of nightly data, combined with the proliferation of open-science 1D (spherical symmetry) stellar modeling software, capable of evolving a star from birth to death in hours on a laptop. Moreover, advanced computational capabilities are now enabling us to conduct large-scale numerical Radiation-Hydrodynamics simulations on dynamically relevant timescales, provided sufficient computing resources. We are over a century away from achieving fully-resolved 3D stellar evolution calculations — thus, we need to build bridges between 1D models across cosmic time, 3D simulations of short-lived phenomena, and observable effects probable with the current and upcoming generation of surveys. My work lies where those bridges meet. I will focus this talk on the dying days of massive stars (>10 Msun): a persistent centerpiece of astronomical research, shaping their environments throughout their dynamic lives and often-explosive ends. While physical processes deep in their cores such as fusion and neutrino emission determine their fates, their outer envelopes mediate everything we observe. I will highlight our work towards understanding the observable dynamics of that tenuous envelope: large-scale convection, episodic mass loss, wind-companion interactions, and emission during supernova explosions. I will also discuss ongoing and future efforts towards leveraging stellar physics towards insights across astrophysical scales, highlighting the collaborative potential between CCA, CUNY, and the greater NYC Astrophysics community.