Abstract
Type Ia supernova (SNe Ia) events are highly luminous explosions used as standardizable candles which play a key role in measuring the equation of state of dark energy and the cosmological expansion of our universe. Despite their key role in cosmology and astrophysics, a complete understanding of the explosion physics that triggers these thermonuclear explosions remains elusive until now. In this thesis, I present the first application of a novel laboratory-validated turbulently driven deflagration-to-detonation transition (tDDT) mechanism for thermonuclear flames to full-star three-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations of near-Chandrasekhar (near-M꜀ₕ) mass SNe Ia explosions. I discuss the role of turbulence-flame interactions in near-M꜀ₕ SNe Ia explosions, and the statistical characteristics of turbulently-driven flames in our simulations.