Hydrodynamic Thermonuclear Runaways in Superbursts
Hydrodynamic Thermonuclear Runaways in Superbursts
We calculate the thermal and dynamical evolution of the surface layers of an accreting neutron star during the rise of a superburst. For the first few hours following unstable 12C ignition, the nuclear energy release is transported by convection. However, as the base temperature rises, the heating time becomes shorter …