Gravitational Collapse Modeling

Gravitational collapse occurs at the final stages of existence of a massive star. After the outer envelope of the star explodes in a supernova, the core of the star collapses. This is the birth process for either a neutron star or a black hole. The exact order of these events and the processes that occur are not well understood.

Steps in our gravitational collapse modeling project:

We are concerned with what conditions preceed gravitational collapse, the process of gravitational collapse, and the by-products of gravitational collapse.

Precursors to Gravitational Collapse

1. Develop a baby stellar model.
2. Include hydrodynamics.
3. Include thermodynamics and radiation.
4. Include nuclear physics.
5. Include weak interaction processes.
6. Include stellar rotation.
7. Include stellar oscillation.
8. Include plasmas and stellar magnetism.
9. Include general relativity.

Gravitational Collapse and Supernovae

1. Develop a baby model of a supernova and core collapse.
2. Include hydrodynamics.
3. Include thermal processes.
4. Include nuclear and particle physics.
5. Include electrodynamics.
6. Include general relativity.

Neutron Star Formation

1. Assuming collapse develop a baby model of neutron star formation.
2. Include nuclear processes.
3. Include dense matter processes.
4. Include rotation.
5. Include superfluidity.
6. Include crustal formation.
7. Include general relativity.
8. Include exotic matter.

Black Hole Formation

1. Assuming collapse develop a baby model of black hole formation.
2. Include general relativity.
3. Include electrodynamics.
4. Include rotation.
5. Include different initial confiugurations.
6. Include quantum gravity.

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