Using lagrangian tracer particles to study core-collapse supernovae

Nuclear fusion in stars does not proceed past iron because the binding energy per nucleon is reduced by such reactions, thus they do not provide energy to the star. When the core fills with iron, the pressure caused by fusion can no longer resist the force of gravity and the star contracts. This causes a supernova to occur. The supernovae explosion is energetic enough to create a wide variety of elements, including those heavier than iron. This is known as supernova nucleosynthesis. Studying the process of supernova nucleosynthesis is important to help us better understand the life cycle of stars and their interior processes. We run simulations of supernovae on the supercomputers at OLCF and NERSC. As part of these simulations, we include tracer particles which essentially act as detectors inside the star, to record the time histories of thermodynamic properties, kinematic values, and chemical composition for mas