The University of Tokyo · Physics and Astronomy
Professor Shing-Chi Leung's research lab specializes in theoretical and computational astrophysics, focusing on the structure, stability, and evolution of compact stellar objects such as neutron stars, white dwarfs, and massive stars. The lab investigates the impact of exotic components—particularly non-self-annihilating dark matter—on stellar equilibrium and dynamics using general relativistic two-fluid formalisms and advanced hydrodynamic simulations. Key research directions include pulsational pair-instability in massive stars, Type Ia supernova explosions via the double-detonation mechanism, and the oscillatory and structural properties of dark matter–containing compact stars. The lab integrates multi-scale modeling techniques, including stellar evolution, pulsation, and hydrodynamic simulations, to interpret observational data from stars like Betelgeuse.
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We study the hydrostatic equilibrium configuration of an admixture of degenerate dark matter and normal nuclear matter by using a general relativistic two-fluid formalism. We consider non-self-annihilating dark matter particles of mass $\ensuremath{\sim}1\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}$. The mass-radius relations and moments of inertia of these dark-matter admixed neutron stars are investigated and the stability of these stars is demonstrated by performing a radial perturbation analysis. We find a
Abstract We calculate the evolution of massive stars, which undergo pulsational pair-instability (PPI) when the O-rich core is formed. The evolution from the main sequence through the onset of PPI is calculated for stars with initial masses of 80–140 M ⊙ and metallicities of Z = 10 −3 −1.0 Z ⊙ . Because of mass loss, Z ≤ 0.5 Z ⊙ is necessary for stars to form He cores massive enough (i.e., mass >40 M ⊙ ) to undergo PPI. The hydrodynamical phase of evolution from PPI through the beginning of F
Abstract Recent observations of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) have shown diversified properties of the explosion strength, light curves, and chemical composition. To investigate possible origins of such diversities in SNe Ia, we have presented multidimensional hydrodynamical studies of explosions and associated nucleosynthesis in near-Chandrasekhar-mass carbon–oxygen (CO) white dwarfs (WDs) for a wide range of parameters. In the present paper, we extend our wide parameter survey of models to the e
We conduct a rigorous examination of the nearby red supergiant Betelgeuse by drawing on the synthesis of new observational data and three different modeling techniques. Our observational results include the release of new, processed photometric measurements collected with the space-based Solar Mass Ejection Imager instrument prior to Betelgeuse’s recent, unprecedented dimming event, and the detection of a new pulsation mode in the star. Our theoretical predictions include self-consistent results
We study the equilibrium structures of white dwarfs with dark matter cores formed by non-self-annihilating dark matter (DM) particles with masses ranging from 1 GeV to 100 GeV, which are assumed to form an ideal degenerate Fermi gas inside the stars. For DM particles of mass 10 GeV and 100 GeV, we find that stable stellar models exist only if the mass of the DM core inside the star is less than $O({10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}){M}_{\ensuremath{\bigodot}}$ and $O({10}^{\ensuremath{-}6}){M}_{\ensuremath{
In Phys. Rev. D 84, 107301 (2011), we presented our results on using a general relativistic two-fluid formalism to study the hydrostatic equilibrium configuration of an admixture of degenerate dark matter and normal nuclear matter. In this work, we present more analysis to complement our previous findings. We study the radial oscillation modes of these compact stars in detail. We find that these stars in general have two classes of oscillation modes. For a given total mass of the star, the first
Abstract The fast blue optical transient (FBOT) ATLAS18qqn (AT2018cow) has a light curve as bright as that of superluminous supernovae (SLSNe) but rises and falls much faster. We model this light curve by circumstellar interaction of a pulsational pair-instability (PPI) supernova (SN) model based on our PPISN models studied in previous work. We focus on the 42 M ⊙ He star (core of a 80 M ⊙ star) which has circumstellar matter (CSM) of mass 0.50 M ⊙ . With the parameterized mass cut and the kinet
Stars with $\sim 8-10~{M}_{\odot}$ evolve to form a strongly degenerate ONeMg core. When the core mass becomes close to the Chandrasekhar mass, the core undergoes electron captures on $^{24}$Mg and $^{20}$Ne, which induce the electron-capture supernova (ECSN). In order to clarify whether the ECSN leads to a collapse or thermonuclear explosion, we calculate the evolution of an $8.4~M_\odot$ star from the main sequence until the oxygen ignition in the ONeMg core. We apply the latest electron-captu
A two-dimensional hydrodynamics code for Type Ia supernova (SNIa) simulations is presented. The code includes a fifth-order shock-capturing scheme WENO, detailed nuclear reaction network, flame-capturing scheme and sub-grid turbulence. For post-processing, we have developed a tracer particle scheme to record the thermodynamical history of the fluid elements. We also present a one-dimensional radiative transfer code for computing observational signals. The code solves the Lagrangian hydrodynamics
Abstract The discovery of rapidly rising and fading supernovae powered by circumstellar interaction has suggested the pre-supernova mass eruption phase as a critical phenomenon in massive star evolution. It is important to understand the mass and radial extent of the circumstellar medium (CSM) from theoretically predicted mass ejection mechanisms. In this work, we study the wave heating process in massive hydrogen-poor stars, running a suite of stellar models in order to predict the wave energy
Abstract Stars of 8–10 M ⊙ form a strongly electron-degenerate oxygen–neon–magnesium core which is more massive than ∼1.1 M ⊙ , and become super-Asymptotic Giant Branch stars. The oxygen–neon–magnesium core increases its mass through H and He shell burning. The core contracts accordingly and the central density increases. In the high density core, electron capture takes place and further boosts the core contraction. When electron capture on 20 Ne starts, it induces oxygen–neon deflagration. It r
Abstract The recently observed diversity of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) has motivated us to conduct the theoretical modeling of SNe Ia for a wide parameter range. In particular, the origin of Type Iax supernovae (SNe Iax) has been obscure. Following our earlier work on the parameter dependence of SN Ia models, we focus on SNe Iax in the present study. For a model of SNe Iax, we adopt the currently leading model of pure turbulent deflagration of near-Chandrasekhar mass C+O white dwarfs (WDs). We
We perform two-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations for the thermonuclear explosion of Chandrasekhar-mass white dwarfs with dark matter (DM) cores in Newtonian gravity. We include a 19-isotope nuclear reaction network and make use of the pure turbulent deflagration model as the explosion mechanism in our simulations. Our numerical results show that the general properties of the explosion depend quite sensitively on the mass of the DM core M$_{{\rm DM}}$: a larger M$_{{\rm DM}}$ generally leads t
Abstract Recent observations have shown a remarkable diversity of observational behaviors and explosion mechanisms in thermonuclear supernovae (SNe). An emerging class of peculiar thermonuclear SNe, called Type Iax, show photometric and spectroscopic behaviors distinct from normal Type Ia. Their origin remains highly controversial, but pure turbulent deflagration of white dwarfs (WDs) has been regarded as the leading formation theory. The large population of Type Iax indicates the existence of u
Abstract Recently observed pulsars with masses ∼1.1 M ⊙ challenge the conventional neutron star (NS) formation path by core-collapse supernova (CCSN). Using spherically symmetric hydrodynamics simulations, we follow the collapse of a massive white dwarf (WD) core triggered by electron capture, until the formation of a proto-NS (PNS). For initial WD models with the same central density, we study the effects of a static, compact dark matter (DM) admixed core on the collapse and bounce dynamics and
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