English

An Analytic Threshold for LESA-Driven Negative ELN Flux Directions in Core-Collapse Supernovae: Derivation and Population Census

High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena 2026-04-28 v2 Solar and Stellar Astrophysics

Abstract

In core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe), deleptonization normally favors νe\nu_e over νˉe\bar{\nu}_e emission. However, lepton-number emission self-sustained asymmetry (LESA) can make the energy-integrated emitted lepton-number flux negative along some directions. We derive a simple diagnostic for this transition and test it in 33 independent 3D CCSN simulations: 25 Princeton/Fornax models (8.18.1--100M100\,M_\odot) and 8 Garching models, including non-, slow-, and fast-rotating 15M15\,M_\odot cases. Of 23 non-black-hole-forming Princeton models, 22 cross the threshold, with median onset tc=225mst_c=225\,\mathrm{ms}, IQR 162162--264ms264\,\mathrm{ms}, and cross-model scatter CV=18.6%\mathrm{CV}=18.6\%. Full-sky flux-sign searches show that the threshold identifies the anti-LESA-pole transition, distinguishing the global LESA-driven crossing from early localized turbulent crossings. The fast-rotating Garching 15M15\,M_\odot model, where rapid rotation suppresses the LESA dipole, is correctly classified as a non-crosser without using any rotation parameter. Both black-hole-forming Princeton models cross near 250ms250\,\mathrm{ms} post-bounce and remain above threshold for 18071807 and 2463ms2463\,\mathrm{ms} before collapse. Thus, in the next nearby CCSN, the emitted νˉe\bar{\nu}_e energy flux may exceed the νe\nu_e flux along some lines of sight. Such directions may also correlate with sustained fast flavor instability, although testing this requires local phase-space distributions or dedicated linear stability analysis. The relevant quantity here is the energy-integrated emitted flux field, i.e. a luminosity difference per steradian, not a neutrino number flux.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2604.21081,
  title  = {An Analytic Threshold for LESA-Driven Negative ELN Flux Directions in Core-Collapse Supernovae: Derivation and Population Census},
  author = {Nicolás Viaux and Lucas Johns},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2604.21081},
  year   = {2026}
}