Simulations of the Magneto-rotational Instability in Core-Collapse Supernovae

Abstract

We assess the importance of the magneto-rotational instability in core-collapse supernovae by an analysis of the growth rates of unstable modes in typical post-collapse systems and by numerical simulations of simplified models. The interplay of differential rotation and thermal stratification defines different instability regimes which we confirm in our simulations. We investigate the termination of the growth of the MRI by parasitic instabilities, establish scaling laws characterising the termination amplitude, and study the long-term evolution of the saturated turbulent state.