Type Ia Supernova Information-Theoretic Energetics

Fuente: Zenodo
Gespeichert in:
Bibliographische Detailangaben
1. Verfasser: Kemple, Kurtis
Format: Recurso digital
Veröffentlicht: Zenodo 2025
Schlagworte:
Online-Zugang:
Tags: Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
_version_ 1866901964529336320
author Kemple, Kurtis
author_facet Kemple, Kurtis
contents <p>This paper presents an information-theoretic calculation of Type Ia supernova energetics by counting the phase space reorganization during the transition from electron to neutron degeneracy at the Chandrasekhar limit. The calculation proceeds from standard physics: at the Chandrasekhar mass (1.4 M☉), white dwarfs contain ~1.7 × 10⁵⁷ particles occupying electron-degenerate phase space in volume ~(5000 km)³. Collapse to neutron star densities compresses this to ~(10 km)³. The volume ratio yields an information reorganization ΔN_b ≈ 4.5 × 10⁵⁸ bits. Applying Landauer's principle (E = k_B T ln 2 per bit) at observed shock temperatures T_s ~ 10⁹ K gives total reorganization energy E ≈ 4.3 × 10⁴⁴ J—matching the observed Type Ia energy scale to within an order of magnitude. This approach complements rather than replaces standard nuclear burning models, which yield similar energies through different accounting (carbon fusion releasing ~0.6 MeV per nucleon across 10⁵⁷ nucleons). The correspondence suggests phase space geometry may constrain explosion energetics independent of detailed burning mechanisms. The framework offers perspective on Type Ia diversity: variations in peak luminosity may reflect what fraction of available phase space actually reorganizes during explosion. The calculation requires only four inputs—Chandrasekhar mass, white dwarf radius, neutron star radius, and shock temperature—using straightforward thermodynamics and state counting.</p>
format Recurso digital
id zenodo_https___doi_org_10_5281_zenodo_17980315
institution Zenodo
language
publishDate 2025
publisher Zenodo
record_format zenodo
spellingShingle Type Ia Supernova Information-Theoretic Energetics
Kemple, Kurtis
Type Ia supernova
Chandrasekhar limit
white dwarf
electron degeneracy
Landauer principle
phase space
information theory
stellar astrophysics
neutron star
thermodynamics
<p>This paper presents an information-theoretic calculation of Type Ia supernova energetics by counting the phase space reorganization during the transition from electron to neutron degeneracy at the Chandrasekhar limit. The calculation proceeds from standard physics: at the Chandrasekhar mass (1.4 M☉), white dwarfs contain ~1.7 × 10⁵⁷ particles occupying electron-degenerate phase space in volume ~(5000 km)³. Collapse to neutron star densities compresses this to ~(10 km)³. The volume ratio yields an information reorganization ΔN_b ≈ 4.5 × 10⁵⁸ bits. Applying Landauer's principle (E = k_B T ln 2 per bit) at observed shock temperatures T_s ~ 10⁹ K gives total reorganization energy E ≈ 4.3 × 10⁴⁴ J—matching the observed Type Ia energy scale to within an order of magnitude. This approach complements rather than replaces standard nuclear burning models, which yield similar energies through different accounting (carbon fusion releasing ~0.6 MeV per nucleon across 10⁵⁷ nucleons). The correspondence suggests phase space geometry may constrain explosion energetics independent of detailed burning mechanisms. The framework offers perspective on Type Ia diversity: variations in peak luminosity may reflect what fraction of available phase space actually reorganizes during explosion. The calculation requires only four inputs—Chandrasekhar mass, white dwarf radius, neutron star radius, and shock temperature—using straightforward thermodynamics and state counting.</p>
title Type Ia Supernova Information-Theoretic Energetics
topic Type Ia supernova
Chandrasekhar limit
white dwarf
electron degeneracy
Landauer principle
phase space
information theory
stellar astrophysics
neutron star
thermodynamics
url https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17980315