Model for the explosion of a critical-mass neutron star in a binary system

Abstract

A series of numerical models has been constructed for the three-dimensional explosion dynamics of a low-mass neutron star in a binary system that results from the collapse of the rotating iron core of a massive supernova. The numerical solution has been obtained by the particle method with an adaptive time step that allows the computational accuracy to be controlled automatically. The constructed numerical models include the proper motion of the massive component in the binary system of neutron stars, their finite sizes, the graduality of energy release during the explosive disruption of a critical-mass neutron star, and the nonuniform expansion velocity distribution of iron ejecta. The extent to which each of the listed parameters affects the explosion characteristics has been determined. The total explosion energy and the pulsar escape velocity have been estimated. A sizable fraction of the material of the exploded neutron star has been found to remain gravitationally bound to the massive component of the binary system. A further study of its dynamics is of interest in its own right, because the captured material can be considered as an additional source of muon neutrinos.