Core Collapse Supernova Explosion Simulations: The Path to and Necessity for 3D Models
We discuss the current status of progress towards unraveling the mystery of the core collapse supernova mechanism. We advance the notion that the fundamental impediment to progress in supernova theory over several decades has been the lack of access to codes and computers with which to properly simulate the collapse phenomenon in 3D. There may be qualitative differences between 1D, 2D, and 3D models. Since 3D capabilities have only recently become a viable hope, this could explain theory's slow march since the 1960's towards demonstrating a robust mechanism of explosion. It has been shown that one dimensional, spherical explosions require a set of rare progenitor characteristics. Moreover, when they explode they are generically underenergetic. Two dimensional simulations are still ambiguous and problematic, though they manifest some of the multi dimensional effects shown to enable explosion (Murphy Burrows 2008) In this contribution, we summarize the recent results from the various leading groups still.