Nevin Weinberg: Carbon detonation and shock-triggered helium burning in neutron star superbursts

Nevin told us about the physics of the superburst rise.  This is relevant because the rise both (1) determines the energy released during the superburst and thereby the light curve morphology and (2) sets the composition of the deep ocean and crust. 

The burning during the rise eventually occurs on such a small timescale that it becomes hydrodynamic; Nevin convincingly argues that a detonation ensues.  The detonation-induced shock triggers rapid heating of the overlying H/He layer and thus an X-ray burst-like event.  Such events are likely the detonation's observational signature.

The existence of the burst-like events may set an upper limit on the superburst ignition depth independently of other methods.