We investigate the fully relativistic spherical collapse model of a uniform distribution of mass $M$ with initial comoving radius $\chi_*$ and spatial curvature $k \equiv 1/\chi_k^2 \le 1/\chi_*^2$ representing an over-density or bounded perturbation within a larger background. Our model incorporates a perfect fluid with an evolving equation of state, $P = P[\rho]$, which asymptotically transitions from pressureless dust ($P = 0$) to a ground state characterized by a uniform, time-independent energy density $\rho_{\rm G}$. This transition is motivated by the quantum exclusion principle, which prevents singular collapse, as observed in supernova core-collapse explosions. We analytically demonstrate that this transition induces a gravitational bounce at a radius $R_{\rm B} = (8 \pi G \rho_{\rm G}/3)^{-1/2}$. The bounce leads to an exponential expansion phase, where $P[\rho]$ behaves effectively as an inflation potential. This model provides novel insights into black hole interiors and, when extended to a cosmological setting, predicts a small but non-zero closed spatial curvature: $ -0.07 \pm 0.02 \le \Omega_k < 0$. This lower bound follows from the requirement of $\chi_k \ge \chi_* \simeq 15.9$ Gpc to address the cosmic microwave background low quadrupole anomaly. The bounce remains confined within the initial gravitational radius $r_{\rm S} = 2GM$, which effectively acts as a cosmological constant $\Lambda$ inside $r_{\rm S}=\sqrt{3/\Lambda}$ while still appearing as a Schwarzschild black hole from an external perspective. This framework unifies the origin of inflation and dark energy, with its key observational signature being the presence of a small, but nonzero, spatial curvature, a testable prediction for upcoming cosmological surveys.

We study the collapse of spherical cold clouds beyond black hole (BH) formation to investigate the possibility of a bounce in the in-falling matter when a critical density or pressure is reached. As a first step, we analyze the pressureless collapse in general relativity (GR), where an analytic solution exists, and demonstrate that an equivalent Newtonian solution can be derived. Such equivalence also holds for spherically symmetric perfect fluids with uniform density and non-vanishing pressure. We numerically investigate the Newtonian collapse of such clouds with masses of $5$, $20$, and $1000$ M$_\odot$ obeying a polytropic equation of state (EoS). By choosing EoS parameters inspired by typical neutron star conditions, we observe bounces at and above nuclear saturation density. Assuming approximate uniformity, we explore the equivalent GR behaviour of the matter during the bounce. Our findings are: i) A GR bounce occurs around the ground state of the matter, characterized by $P = -\rho$. ii) The GR solution significantly differs from the Newtonian result due to the presence of curvature ($k \neq 0$). iii) Both the curvature and the ground state are crucial factors in allowing a GR bounce to occur.

We present a novel cosmological framework where cosmic expansion arises from the gravitational collapse and bounce of a uniform, spherically symmetric cloud of mass \( m \) with an initial comoving radius \( \chi_* \). Extending Lemaître's 1933 "atom universe," this model incorporates a perfect fluid with an evolving equation of state \( P = P(\rho) \), transitioning from pressureless dust \( P = 0 \) to a ground state with fixed energy density (\( \rho_G \)) as required by the quantum exclusion principle. This results in negative pressure (\( P_G = -\rho_G \)) and a gravitational bounce at the gravitational radius \( R_B \), associated with \( \rho_G \) (\( R_B \simeq 24 \) km for nuclear saturation density). The bounce triggers an expansion phase, with \( P(\rho) \) serving as the inflationary potential. This framework explains the cosmic cutoff scale (\( \chi_* \simeq 15.9 \) Gpc) which addresses key observed CMB anomalies. The bounce is trapped within the initial gravitational radius \( r_S = 2Gm \), which acts like a \( \Lambda \) term with \( r_S=\sqrt{3 /\Lambda} \simeq 5.1 \) Gpc. This approach provides a unified explanation of inflation and its observational signatures, offering new insights into cosmic expansion and the quantum origins of structures.

We present long-term three-dimensional (3D) simulations of Type-IIP supernovae (SNe) for 13 non-rotating, single-star, red-supergiant (RSG) progenitors with zero-age-main-sequence masses between 12.5 M_⊙ and 27.3 M_⊙. The explosions were modelled with a parametric treatment of neutrino heating to obtain defined energies, ^56Ni yields, and neutron-star properties in agreement with previous results. Our 3D SN models were evolved from core bounce until 10 days to study how the large-scale mixing of chemical elements depends on the progenitor structure. Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities (RTIs), which grow at the (C+O)/He and He/H interfaces and interact with the reverse shock forming after the SN shock has passed the He/H interface, play a crucial role in the outward mixing of ^56Ni into the hydrogen envelope. We find most extreme ^56Ni mixing and the highest maximum ^56Ni velocities in lower-mass (LM) explosions despite lower explosion energies, and the weakest ^56Ni mixing in the 3D explosions of the most massive RSGs. The efficiency of radial ^56Ni mixing anti-correlates linearly with the helium-core mass and correlates positively with the magnitude of a local maximum of ρr^3 in the helium shell. This maximum causes shock deceleration and therefore facilitates high growth factors of RTI at the (C+O)/He interface in the LM explosions. Therefore fast-moving ^56Ni created by the asymmetric neutrino-heating mechanism is carried into the ubiquitous RT-unstable region near the He/H interface and ultimately far into the envelopes of the exploding RSGs. Our correlations may aid improving mixing prescriptions in 1D SN models and deducing progenitor structures from observed SN properties.

Magnetorotational supernovae are a rare type of core-collapse supernovae where the magnetic field and rotation play a central role in the dynamics of the explosion. We present the post-processed nucleosynthesis of state-of-the-art neutrino-MHD supernova models that follow the post explosion evolution for few seconds. We find three different dynamical mechanisms to produce heavy r-process elements: i) a prompt ejection of matter right after core bounce, ii) neutron-rich matter that is ejected at late times due to a reconfiguration of the protoneutronstar shape, iii) small amount of mass ejected with high entropies in the center of the jet. We investigate total ejecta yields, including the ones of unstable nuclei such as $^{26}$Al, $^{44}$Ti, $^{56}$Ni, and $^{60}$Fe. The obtained $^{56}$Ni masses vary between $0.01 - 1\,\mathrm{M_\odot}$. The latter maximum is compatible with hypernova observations. Furthermore, all of our models synthesize Zn masses in agreement with observations of old metal-poor stars. We calculate simplified light curves to investigate whether our models can be candidates for superluminous supernovae. The peak luminosities obtained from taking into account only nuclear heating reach up to a few $\sim 10^{43} \,\mathrm{erg\,s^{-1}}$. Under certain conditions, we find a significant impact of the $^{66}$Ni decay chain that can raise the peak luminosity up to $\sim 38\%$ compared to models including only the $^{56}$Ni decay chain. This work reinforces the theoretical evidence on the critical role of magnetorotational supernovae to understand the occurrence of hypernovae, superluminous supernovae, and the synthesis of heavy elements.

We present 3D hydrodynamic simulations of neutrino-driven supernovae (SNe) with the PROMETHEUS-HOTB code, evolving the asymmetrically expanding ejecta from shock breakout until they reach the homologous expansion phase after roughly one year. Our calculations continue the simulations for two red supergiant (RSG) and two blue supergiant (BSG) progenitors by Wongwathanarat et al., who investigated the growth of explosion asymmetries produced by hydrodynamic instabilities during the first second of the explosion and their later fragmentation by Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities. We focus on the late time acceleration and inflation of the ejecta caused by the heating due to the radioactive decay of $^{56}$Ni to $^{56}$Fe and by a new outward-moving shock, which forms when the reverse shock from the He/H-shell interface compresses the central part of the ejecta. The mean velocities of the iron-rich ejecta increase between 100 km/s and 350 km/s ($\sim$8-30\%), and the fastest one percent of the iron accelerates by up to $\sim$1000 km/s ($\sim$20-25\%). This 'Ni-bubble effect', known from 1D models, accelerates the bulk of the nickel in our 3D models and causes an inflation of the initially overdense Ni-rich clumps, which leads to underdense, extended fingers, enveloped by overdense skins of compressed surrounding matter. We also provide volume and surface filling factors as well as a spherical harmonics analysis to characterize the spectrum of Ni-clump sizes quantitatively. Three of our four models give volume filling factors larger than 0.3, consistent with what is suggested for SN 1987A by observations.

Magnetars are strongly magnetized, isolated neutron stars1-3 with magnetic fields up to around 1015 gauss, luminosities of approximately 1031-1036 ergs per second and rotation periods of about 0.3-12.0 s. Very energetic giant flares from galactic magnetars (peak luminosities of 1044-1047 ergs per second, lasting approximately 0.1 s) have been detected in hard X-rays and soft γ-rays4, and only one has been detected from outside our galaxy5. During such giant flares, quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) with low (less than 150 hertz) and high (greater than 500 hertz) frequencies have been observed6-9, but their statistical significance has been questioned10. High-frequency QPOs have been seen only during the tail phase of the flare9. Here we report the observation of two broad QPOs at approximately 2,132 hertz and 4,250 hertz in the main peak of a giant γ-ray flare11 in the direction of the NGC 253 galaxy12-17, disappearing after 3.5 milliseconds. The flare was detected on 15 April 2020 by the Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor instrument18,19 aboard the International Space Station, which was the only instrument that recorded the main burst phase (0.8-3.2 milliseconds) in the full energy range (50 × 103 to 40 × 106 electronvolts) without suffering from saturation effects such as deadtime and pile-up. Along with sudden spectral variations, these extremely high-frequency oscillations in the burst peak are a crucial component that will aid our understanding of magnetar giant flares.

ABSTRACT Comparison of theoretical line profiles to observations provides important tests for supernova explosion models. We study the shapes of radioactive decay lines predicted by current 3D core-collapse explosion simulations, and compare these to observations of SN 1987A and Cas A. Both the widths and shifts of decay lines vary by several thousand kilometres per second depending on viewing angle. The line profiles can be complex with multiple peaks. By combining observational constraints from 56Co decay lines, 44Ti decay lines, and Fe IR lines, we delineate a picture of the morphology of the explosive burning ashes in SN 1987A. For MZAMS = 15−20 M⊙ progenitors exploding with ∼1.5 × 1051 erg, ejecta structures suitable to reproduce the observations involve a bulk asymmetry of the 56Ni of at least ∼400 km s−1 and a bulk velocity of at least 1500 km s−1. By adding constraints to reproduce the UVOIR bolometric light curve of SN 1987A up to 600 d, an ejecta mass around 14 M⊙ is favoured. We also investigate whether observed decay lines can constrain the neutron star (NS) kick velocity. The model grid provides a constraint VNS > Vredshift, and applying this to SN 1987A gives a NS kick of at least 500 km s−1. For Cas A, our single model provides a satisfactory fit to the NuSTAR observations and reinforces the result that current neutrino-driven core-collapse SN models achieve enough bulk asymmetry in the explosive burning material. Finally, we investigate the internal gamma-ray field and energy deposition, and compare the 3D models to 1D approximations.

ABSTRACT We present 3D full-sphere supernova simulations of non-rotating low-mass (∼9 M⊙) progenitors, covering the entire evolution from core collapse through bounce and shock revival, through shock breakout from the stellar surface, until fallback is completed several days later. We obtain low-energy explosions (∼0.5–1.0 × 1050 erg) of iron-core progenitors at the low-mass end of the core-collapse supernova (LMCCSN) domain and compare to a super-AGB (sAGB) progenitor with an oxygen–neon–magnesium core that collapses and explodes as electron-capture supernova (ECSN). The onset of the explosion in the LMCCSN models is modelled self-consistently using the vertex-prometheus code, whereas the ECSN explosion is modelled using parametric neutrino transport in the prometheus-HOTB code, choosing different explosion energies in the range of previous self-consistent models. The sAGB and LMCCSN progenitors that share structural similarities have almost spherical explosions with little metal mixing into the hydrogen envelope. A LMCCSN with less second dredge-up results in a highly asymmetric explosion. It shows efficient mixing and dramatic shock deceleration in the extended hydrogen envelope. Both properties allow fast nickel plumes to catch up with the shock, leading to extreme shock deformation and aspherical shock breakout. Fallback masses of $\mathord {\lesssim }\, 5\, \mathord {\times }\, 10^{-3}$ M⊙ have no significant effects on the neutron star (NS) masses and kicks. The anisotropic fallback carries considerable angular momentum, however, and determines the spin of the newly born NS. The LMCCSN model with less second dredge-up results in a hydrodynamic and neutrino-induced NS kick of >40 km s−1 and a NS spin period of ∼30 ms, both not largely different from those of the Crab pulsar at birth.

We present high angular resolution (similar to 80 mas) ALMA continuum images of the SN.1987A system, together with CO J = 2 -> 1, J = 6 -> 5, and SiO J = 5 -> 4 to J = 7 -> 6 images, which clearly resolve the ejecta (dust continuum and molecules) and ring (synchrotron continuum) components. Dust in the ejecta is asymmetric and clumpy, and overall the dust fills the spatial void seen in H alpha images, filling that region with material from heavier elements. The dust clumps generally fill the space where CO J = 6 -> 5 is fainter, tentatively indicating that these dust clumps and CO are locationally and chemically linked. In these regions, carbonaceous dust grains might have formed after dissociation of CO. The dust grains would have cooled by radiation, and subsequent collisions of grains with gas would also cool the gas, suppressing the CO J = 6 -> 5 intensity. The data show a dust peak spatially coincident with the molecular hole seen in previous ALMA CO J = 2 -> 1 and SiO J = 5 -> 4 images. That dust peak, combined with CO and SiO line spectra, suggests that the dust and gas could be at higher temperatures than the surrounding material, though higher density cannot be totally excluded. One of the possibilities is that a compact source provides additional heat at that location. Fits to the far-infrared-millimeter spectral energy distribution give ejecta dust temperatures of 18-23 K. We revise the ejecta dust mass to M-dust = 0.2-0.4 M-circle dot for carbon or silicate grains, or a maximum of <0.7 M-circle dot for a mixture of grain species, using the predicted nucleosynthesis yields as an upper limit.

During the first few hundred days after the explosion, core-collapse supernovae (SNe) emit down-scattered X-rays and gamma-rays originating from radioactive line emissions, primarily from the 56Ni → 56Co → 56Fe chain. We use supernova (SN) models based on three-dimensional neutrino-driven explosion simulations of single stars and mergers to compute this emission and compare the predictions with observations of SN 1987A. A number of models are clearly excluded, showing that high-energy emission is a powerful way of discriminating between models. The best models are almost consistent with the observations, but differences that cannot be matched by a suitable choice of viewing angle are evident. Therefore, our self-consistent models suggest that neutrino-driven explosions are able to produce, in principle, sufficient mixing, although remaining discrepancies may require small changes to the progenitor structures. The soft X-ray cutoff is primarily determined by the metallicity of the progenitor envelope. The main effect of asymmetries is to vary the flux level by a factor of ∼3. For the more asymmetric models, the shapes of the light curves also change. In addition to the models of SN 1987A, we investigate two models of SNe II-P and one model of a stripped-envelope SN IIb. The Type II-P models have observables similar to those of the models of SN 1987A, but the stripped-envelope SN model is significantly more luminous and evolves faster. Finally, we make simple predictions for future observations of nearby SNe.

During the first few hundred days, core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe) strongly emit X-rays and gamma-rays originating from radioactive elements, primarily the 56Ni chain. We use SN models based on th ...

Quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) discovered in the decaying tails of giant flares of magnetars are believed to be torsional oscillations of neutron stars. These QPOs have a high potential to constrain properties of high-density matter. In search for quasi-periodic signals, we study the light curves of the giant flares of SGR 1806-20 and SGR 1900+14, with a non-parametric Bayesian signal inference method called D3PO. The D3PO algorithm models the raw photon counts as a continuous flux and takes the Poissonian shot noise as well as all instrument effects into account. It reconstructs the logarithmic flux and its power spectrum from the data. Using this fully noise-aware method, we do not confirm previously reported frequency lines at ν ≳ 17 Hz because they fall into the noise-dominated regime. However, we find two new potential candidates for oscillations at 9.2 Hz (SGR 1806-20) and 7.7 Hz (SGR 1900+14). If these are real and the fundamental magneto-elastic oscillations of the magnetars, current theoretical models would favour relatively weak magnetic fields B̅ ~ 6× 1013–3 × 1014 G (SGR 1806-20) and a relatively low shear velocity inside the crust compared to previous findings.

We discuss torsional oscillations of highly magnetized neutron stars (magnetars) using two-dimensional, magneto-elastic-hydrodynamical simulations. Our model is able to explain both the low-and high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) observed in magnetars. The analysis of these oscillations provides constraints on the breakout magnetic-field strength, on the fundamental QPO frequency, and on the frequency of a particularly excited overtone. By performing a new set of simulations, we are able to derive for the first time empirical relations for a self consistent model including a superfluid core which describe these constraints quantitatively. We use these relations to generically constrain properties of high-density matter in neutron stars, employing Bayesian analysis. In spite of current uncertainties and computational approximations, our model-dependent Bayesian posterior estimates for SGR 1806-20 yield a magnetic-field strength (B) over bar similar to 2.1(-1.0)(+1.3) x 10(15) G and a crust thickness of Delta r = 1.6(-0.6)(+0.7) km, which are both in remarkable agreement with observational and theoretical expectations, respectively (1 sigma error bars are indicated). Our posteriors also favour the presence of a superfluid phase in the core, a relatively low stellar compactness, M/R < 0.19, indicating a relatively stiff equation of state and/or low-mass neutron star, and high shear speeds at the base of the crust, c(s) > 1.4 x 10(8) cm s(-1). Although the procedure laid out here still has large uncertainties, these constraints could become tighter when additional observations become available.

Editorial Dear Colleagues, It is my pleasure to present you the 155 issue of the Magellanic Clouds Newsletter. This edition seems to concentrate on star clusters and dynamics (from small to large scale) but there are plenty of other interesting new results to read about. If you are looking for a postdoctoral job opportunity there’s an exciting one in Michigan to work with Sally Oey. Suggestions for pictures (images, spectra, graphs, formulæ...) for the cover of the newsletter remain welcome – just send it by e-mail to astro.mcnews@keele.ac.uk. The next issue is planned to be distributed on the 1 of December.

Despite more than 30 years of searching, the compact object in Supernova (SN) 1987A has not yet been detected. We present new limits on the compact object in SN 1987A using millimeter, near-infrared, optical, ultraviolet, and X-ray observations from ALMA, VLT, HST, and Chandra. The limits are approximately 0.1 mJy (0.1 x 10(-26) erg s(-1) cm(-2) Hz(-1)) at 213 GHz, 1 L-circle dot (6 x 10(-29) erg s(-1) cm(-2) Hz(-1)) in the optical if our line of sight is free of ejecta dust, and 10(36) erg s(-1) (2 x 10(-30) erg s(-1) cm(-2) Hz(-1) ) in 2-10 keV X-rays. Our X-ray limits are an order of magnitude less constraining than previous limits because we use a more realistic ejecta absorption model based on three-dimensional neutrino-driven SN explosion models. The allowed bolometric luminosity of the compact object is 22 L-circle dot if our line of sight is free of ejecta dust, or 138L(circle dot) if dust-obscured. Depending on assumptions, these values limit the effective temperature of a neutron star (NS) to <4-8 MK and do not exclude models, which typically are in the range 3-4 MK. For the simplest accretion model, the accretion rate for an efficiency 77 is limited to <10(-11) eta(-1) M-circle dot yr(-1), which excludes most predictions. For pulsar activity modeled by a rotating magnetic dipole in vacuum, the limit on the magnetic field strength (B) for a given spin period (P) is B less than or similar to 10(14) P-2 G s(-2), which firmly excludes pulsars comparable to the Crab. By combining information about radiation reprocessing and geometry, we infer that the compact object is a dust-obscured thermally emitting NS, which may appear as a region of higher-temperature ejecta dust emission.

The material expelled by core-collapse supernova (SN) explosions absorbs X-rays from the central regions. We use SN models based on three-dimensional neutrino-driven explosions to estimate optical depths to the center of the explosion, compare different progenitor models, and investigate the effects of explosion asymmetries. The optical depths below 2 keV for progenitors with a remaining hydrogen envelope are expected to be high during the first century after the explosion due to photoabsorption. A typical optical depth is 100 t(4)(-2 )E(-2), where t(4) is the time since the explosion in units of 10,000 days (similar to 27 years) and E is the energy in units of keV. Compton scattering dominates above 50 keV, but the scattering depth is lower and reaches unity at similar to 1000 days at 1 MeV. The optical depths are approximately an order of magnitude lower for hydrogen-stripped progenitors. The metallicity of the SN ejecta is much higher than that in the interstellar medium, which enhances photoabsorption and makes absorption edges stronger. These results are applicable to young SN remnants in general, but we explore the effects on observations of SN 1987A and the compact object in Cas A in detail. For SN 1987A, the absorption is high and the X-ray upper limits of similar to 100 L-circle dot on a compact object are approximately an order of magnitude less constraining than previous estimates using other absorption models. The details are presented in an accompanying paper. For the central compact object in Cas A, we find no significant effects of our more detailed absorption model on the inferred surface temperature.

Fostered by the possibilities of multi-dimensional computational modeling, in particular the advent of three-dimensional (3D) simulations, our understanding of the neutrino-driven explosion mechanism of core-collapse supernovae (SNe) has experienced remarkable progress over the past decade. First self-consistent, first-principle models have shown successful explosions in 3D, and even failed cases may be cured by moderate changes of the microphysics inside the neutron star (NS), better grid resolution, or more detailed progenitor conditions at the onset of core collapse, in particular large-scale perturbations in the convective Si and O burning shells. 3D simulations have also achieved to follow neutrino-driven explosions continuously from the initiation of the blast wave, through the shock breakout from the progenitor surface, into the radioactively powered evolution of the SN, and towards the free expansion phase of the emerging remnant. Here we present results from such simulations, which form the basis for direct comparisons with observations of SNe and SN remnants in order to derive constraints on the still disputed explosion mechanism. It is shown that predictions based on hydrodynamic instabilities and mixing processes associated with neutrino-driven explosions yield good agreement with measured NS kicks, light-curve properties of SN 1987A, and asymmetries of iron and 44Ti distributions observed in SN 1987A and Cassiopeia A.

Most massive stars end their lives in core-collapse supernova explosions and enrich the interstellar medium with explosively nucleosynthesized elements. Following core collapse, the explosion is subject to instabilities as the shock propagates outwards through the progenitor star. Observations of the composition and structure of the innermost regions of a core-collapse supernova provide a direct probe of the instabilities and nucleosynthetic products. SN 1987A in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) is one of very few supernovae for which the inner ejecta can be spatially resolved but are not yet strongly affected by interaction with the surroundings. Our observations of SN 1987A with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) are of the highest resolution to date and reveal the detailed morphology of cold molecular gas in the innermost regions of the remnant. The 3D distributions of carbon and silicon monoxide (CO and SiO) emission differ, but both have a central deficit, or torus-like distribution, possibly a result of radioactive heating during the first weeks (“nickel heating”). The size scales of the clumpy distribution are compared quantitatively to models, demonstrating how progenitor and explosion physics can be constrained.

Most massive stars end their lives in core-collapse supernova explosions and enrich the interstellar medium with explosively nucleosynthesized elements. Following core collapse, the explosion is subject to instabilities as the shock propagates outward through the progenitor star. Observations of the composition and structure of the innermost regions of a core-collapse supernova provide a direct probe of the instabilities and nucleosynthetic products. SN 1987A in the Large Magellanic Cloud is one of very few supernovae for which the inner ejecta can be spatially resolved but are not yet strongly affected by interaction with the surroundings. Our observations of SN 1987A with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array are of the highest resolution to date and reveal the detailed morphology of cold molecular gas in the innermost regions of the remnant. The 3D distributions of carbon and silicon monoxide (CO and SiO) emission differ, but both have a central deficit, or torus-like distribution, possibly a result of radioactive heating during the first weeks (“nickel heating”). The size scales of the clumpy distribution are compared quantitatively to models, demonstrating how progenitor and explosion physics can be constrained.