I am a computational theorist with a broad interest in the late and final stages of massive stellar evolution with an emphasis on hydrogen-rich progenitors of stellar-mass black holes. I use a combination of magneto-hydrodynamical and radiation-hydrodynamical simulations to study the dynamics of implosion and explosion of these stars and to model the observational signatures that arise from such events.
I earned my Ph.D. in Astrophysics from UC Berkeley where I was advised by Eliot Quataert. My doctoral research investigated what happens to red supergiants after the canonical (neutrino-driven, turbulence-aided) supernova mechanism fails and the star’s hydrogen envelope falls in towards the black hole that formed from the inner layers of the star. I showed that even non-rotating red supergiants have sufficient angular momentum in their convective envelopes to generate an observable, weak explosion that unbinds nearly all of the hydrogen envelope.
As an undergrad at UC Santa Cruz, I worked with Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz and Morgan MacLeod, studying the common envelope phase in the evolution of close compact binaries as well as the general problem of the accretion and drag experienced by binary systems interacting with gaseous environments.
I am a first-generation college student and I was introduced to physics by (the amazing!) Mel Vaughn at West Valley community college. Participating in the Lamat REU during the summer before transferring to UCSC was critical to my path to grad school because it introduced me to astrophysics, connected me with incredible mentors, and gave me an opportunity to do science very early on. Mentoring continues to be the central focus of my service time. Throughout grad school, I served on the executive committee for POWER – Bay Area, a mentoring program and workshop series for Bay Area community college students.
Outside of astronomy, I enjoy birdwatching and spending time with family (including my cats).
Andrea Antoni 