Muon Creation in Supernova Matter Facilitates Neutrino-Driven Explosions

Area of Science:

• Nuclear astrophysics
• Stellar evolution
• Neutron star physics

Background:

• Neutron stars (NSs) form from stellar core collapse.
• High temperatures and electron chemical potentials in nascent NSs allow muon formation.
• Muons have been overlooked in NS simulations due to their lower abundance compared to electrons.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of muons on the equation of state (EoS) of nascent neutron stars.
• To analyze the effects of muons on stellar core collapse dynamics and neutrino emission.
• To assess the role of muons in facilitating neutrino-driven explosions.

Main Methods:

• Numerical simulations of stellar core collapse incorporating muon physics.
• Equation of state calculations considering the presence of muons.
• Analysis of neutrino luminosities and energies emitted during NS formation.

Main Results:

• Muon appearance softens the NS equation of state.
• The presence of muons accelerates neutron star contraction.
• Higher neutrino luminosities and mean energies are observed with muons.
• Muon inclusion strengthens neutrino-driven heating behind the shock wave.

Conclusions:

• Muons play a crucial role in the physics of nascent neutron stars and core collapse.
• Ignoring muons leads to an incomplete understanding of NS formation and explosion mechanisms.
• The inclusion of muons in simulations can improve predictions of neutrino-driven explosions.