On the characteristics of fast neutrino flavor instabilities in three-dimensional core-collapse supernova models

We assess the occurrence of fast neutrino flavor instabilities in two three-dimensional state-of-the-art core-collapse supernova simulations performed using a two-moment three-species neutrino transport scheme: one with an exploding 9$mathrm{M_{odot}}$ and one with a non-exploding 20$mathrm{M_{odot}}$ model. Apart from confirming the presence of fast instabilities occurring within the neutrino decoupling and the supernova pre-shock regions, we detect flavor instabilities in the post-shock region for the exploding model. These instabilities are likely to be scattering-induced. In addition, the failure in achieving a successful explosion in the heavier supernova model seems to seriously hinder the occurrence of fast instabilities in the post-shock region. This is a consequence of the large matter densities behind the stalled or retreating shock, which implies high neutrino scattering rates and thus more isotropic distributions of neutrinos and antineutrinos. Our findings suggest that the supernova model properties and the fate of the explosion can remarkably affect the occurrence of fast instabilities. Hence, a larger set of realistic hydrodynamical simulations of the stellar collapse is needed in order to make reliable predictions on the flavor conversion physics.

Fast Neutrino Flavor Conversion Modes in Multidimensional Core-collapse Supernova Models: the Role of the Asymmetric Neutrino Distributions

A dense neutrino gas, such as the one anticipated in the supernova environment, can experience fast neutrino flavor

Where, when and why: occurrence of fast-pairwise collective neutrino oscillation in three-dimensional core-collapse supernova models

Fast-pairwise collective neutrino oscillation represents a key uncertainty in the theory of core-collapse supernova (CCSN). Despite the potentially significant impact on CCSN dynamics, it is usually neglected in numerical models of CCSN because of the formidable technical difficulties of self-consistently incorporating this physics. In this paper, we investigate the prospects for the occurrence of fast flavor conversion by diagnosing electron neutrino lepton number (ELN) crossing in more than a dozen state-of-the-art three-dimensional CCSN models. ELN crossings is a necessary condition for triggering flavor conversion. Although only zeroth and first angular moments are available from the simulations, our new method enables us to look into the angular distributions of neutrinos in momentum space and provide accurate insight into ELN crossings. Our analysis suggests that fast flavor conversion generally occurs in the post-shock region of CCSNe, and that explosive models provide more favorable conditions for the flavor conversion than failed CCSNe. We also find that there are both common and progenitor-dependent characteristics. Classifying ELN crossings into two types, we analyze the generation mechanism of each case by scrutinizing the neutrino radiation field and matter interactions. We find key ingredients of CCSN dynamics driving the ELN crossings: proto-neutron star (PNS) convection, asymmetric neutrino emission, neutrino absorptions and scatterings. This study suggests that we need to accommodate fast flavor