Bernhard Müller

The detection of gravitational waves from a core-collapse supernova in the Milky Way or its vicinity represents a unique opportunity to probe the inner workings of these explosions. In this review, I briefly summarize our current understanding of the supernova explosion mechanism and then outline the physical processes that shape the supernova gravitational wave signal. The review highlights how the various components of the signal have the potential to constrain the progenitor rotation, the proto-neutron star structure, the nuclear equation of state, the nature of hydrodynamic instabilities, and the violence of turbulent motions in the supernova core. I also highlight some open questions and uncertainties in the theory of supernova gravitational wave astronomy as well as challenges for further progress. Specifically, there is a need to develop large model databases, systematic uncertainty quantification and methods for evidence assessment to prepare for multi-messenger observations from a Galactic supernova.