Multidimensional Simulations of Energy Transport via Convection and Gravity Waves Driven by Core Neon and Oxygen Nuclear Burning in Massive Stars

Progenitors of core-collapse supernovae are now expected to undergo extreme mass loss events as pre-SN outbursts. In this work, two-dimensional simulations of massive stars of 9 different masses ranging from 15-34M$_{\odot}$ were performed to study the transport of energy in the inner regions of these SN progenitors during the neon/oxygen core burning phase of stellar evolution. This epoch of nuclear burning is consistent with timing estimates of some of these pre-SN mass loss events (approximately 1-3 years prior to SN event). The core heating caused by this neon/oxygen burning drives large-scale convection and subsequent gravity waves that propagate through the star carrying the energy released from the nucleosynthesis in the core. These simulations realistically simulate this energy generation and transport through the inner convective and radiative stellar regions and examine the potential for this nuclear burning epoch to create convection and gravity waves energetic enough to result in enhanced mass loss events in massive SN progenitor stars.