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[56.06] Synthetic Spectra of 3D Supernovae: Monte Carlo Radiative Equilibrium Models

D. Kasen (LBNL), R. Thomas (Univ. of Oklahoma), P. Nugent (LBNL), E. Baron, D. Branch (Univ. of Oklahoma)

We present a method for calculating synthetic spectra of model supernova atmospheres with arbitrary three dimensional geometries. The radiative transfer problem is solved using a Monte Carlo approach, and the temperature structure of the atmosphere is calculated by imposing radiative equilibrium. We derive the equation of radiative equilibrium under the Sobolev approximation (i.e. narrow line limit), and use an iterative scheme to solve it. We investigate the convergence properties of this scheme and its dependence on geometry. The Monte Carlo algorithm can compute both flux and polarization spectra of a model supernova from any line of sight, and will be used to compare multidimensional explosion models against observations. We present some simple benchmark calculations and some more realistic models of nonspherical supernovae.

The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address for comments about the abstract: dnkasen@panisse.lbl.gov

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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 34, #4
© 2002. The American Astronomical Soceity.