Context: Manganese is predominantly synthesised in Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) explosions. Owing to the entropy dependence of the Mn yield in explosive thermonuclear burning, SNe Ia involving near Chandrasekhar-mass white dwarfs (WDs) are predicted to
produce Mn to Fe ratios significantly exceeding those of SN Ia explosions involving sub-Chandrasekhar mass primary WDs. Of all current supernova explosion models, only SN Ia models involving near-Chandrasekhar mass WDs produce [Mn/Fe] > 0.0. Aims: Using the specific yields for competing SN Ia scenarios, we aim to constrain the relative fractions of exploding near-Chandrasekhar mass to sub-Chandrasekhar mass primary WDs in the Galaxy. Methods: We extract the Mn yields from three-dimensional thermonuclear supernova simulations referring to different initial setups and progenitor channels. We then compute the chemical evolution of Mn in the Solar neighborhood, assuming SNe Ia are made up of different relative fractions of the considered explosion models. Results: We find that due to the entropy dependence of freeze-out yields from nuclear statistical equilibrium, [Mn/Fe] strongly depends on the mass of the exploding WD, with near-Chandraskher mass WDs producing substantially higher [Mn/Fe] than sub-Chandrasekhar mass WDs. Of all nucleosynthetic sources potentially influencing the chemical evolution of Mn, only explosion models involving the thermonuclear incineration of near-Chandrasekhar mass WDs predict solar or super-solar [Mn/Fe]. Consequently, we find in our chemical evolution calculations that the observed [Mn/Fe] in the Solar neighborhood at [Fe/H] > 0.0 cannot be reproduced without near-Chandrasekhar mass SN Ia primaries. Assuming that 50 per cent of all SNe Ia stem from explosive thermonuclear burning in near-Chandrasekhar mass WDs results in a good match to data.
The impact of nuclear physics uncertainties on nucleosynthesis in thermonuclear supernovae has not been fully explored using comprehensive and systematic studies with multiple models. To better constrain predictions of yields from these phenomena, we
have performed a sensitivity study by post-processing thermodynamic histories from two different hydrodynamic, Chandrasekhar-mass explosion models. We have individually varied all input reaction and, for the first time, weak interaction rates by a factor of ten and compared the yields in each case to yields using standard rates. Of the 2305 nuclear reactions in our network, we find that the rates of only 53 reactions affect the yield of any species with an abundance of at least 10^-8 M_sun by at least a factor of two, in either model. The rates of the 12C(a,g), 12C+12C, 20Ne(a,p), 20Ne(a,g) and 30Si(p,g) reactions are among those that modify the most yields when varied by a factor of ten. From the individual variation of 658 weak interaction rates in our network by a factor of ten, only the stellar 28Si(b+)28Al, 32S(b+)32P and 36Ar(b+)36Cl rates significantly affect the yields of species in a model. Additional tests reveal that reaction rate changes over temperatures T > 1.5 GK have the greatest impact, and that ratios of radionuclides that may be used as explosion diagnostics change by a factor of less than two from the variation of individual rates by a factor of 10. Nucleosynthesis in the two adopted models is relatively robust to variations in individual nuclear reaction and weak interaction rates. Laboratory measurements of a limited number of reactions would help to further constrain predictions. As well, we confirm the need for a consistent treatment for relevant stellar weak interaction rates since simultaneous variation of these rates (as opposed to individual variation) has a significant effect on yields in our models.
We present results for a suite of fourteen three-dimensional, high resolution hydrodynamical simulations of delayed-detonation modelsof Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) explosions. This model suite comprises the first set of three-dimensional SN Ia simulati
ons with detailed isotopic yield information. As such, it may serve as a database for Chandrasekhar-mass delayed-detonation model nucleosynthetic yields and for deriving synthetic observables such as spectra and light curves. We employ a physically motivated, stochastic model based on turbulent velocity fluctuations and fuel density to calculate in situ the deflagration to detonation transition (DDT) probabilities. To obtain different strengths of the deflagration phase and thereby different degrees of pre-expansion, we have chosen a sequence of initial models with 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 40, 100, 150, 200, 300, and 1600 (two different realizations) ignition kernels in a hydrostatic white dwarf with central density of 2.9 x 10^9 gcc, plus in addition one high central density (5.5 x 10^9 gcc), and one low central density (1.0 x 10^9 gcc) rendition of the 100 ignition kernel configuration. For each simulation we determined detailed nucleosynthetic yields by post-processing 10^6 tracer particles with a 384 nuclide reaction network. All delayed detonation models result in explosions unbinding the white dwarf, producing a range of 56Ni masses from 0.32 to 1.11 solar masses. As a general trend, the models predict that the stable neutron-rich iron group isotopes are not found at the lowest velocities, but rather at intermediate velocities (~3,000 - 10,000 km/s) in a shell surrounding a 56Ni-rich core. The models further predict relatively low velocity oxygen and carbon, with typical minimum velocities around 4,000 and 10,000 km/s, respectively.
