Argonne National Laboratory

uoyancy-driven turbulent nuclear combustion determines the rate of nuclear burning during the deflagration phase (i.e., the ordinary nuclear flame phase) of Type Ia supernovae, and hence the amount of nuclear energy released during this phase. It therefore determines the amount the white dwarf str expands prior to initiation of a detonation wave, and so the amount of radioactive nickel and thus the peak luminosity of the explosion.