All Questions
Tagged with white-dwarf supernova
20 questions
0
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0
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53
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Is Kepler's Supernova a double degenerate or single degenerate supernova?
I know that SN 1604 is a Type Ia supernova. But was it formed from two white dwarfs colliding in a double degenerate scenario, or in a single white dwarf accreting matter? I have seen supporters of ...
- 1,097
4
votes
1
answer
116
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Do neutrinos account for approximately 99% of the energy released by Type 1a supernovae as they do for Type II 'Core collapse' supernovae?
So many accounts say that neutrinos carry away about 99 percent of the energy from a 'traditional' supernova (giant star at end of its life), but what about a white dwarf detonated after accretion?
- 5,585
5
votes
2
answers
522
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White dwarf supernova luminosity
I understand that the mass limit for a white dwarf is 1.4 solar masses, and therefore approaching it would cause a white dwarf (type Ia) supernova, and thus it is a standard candle. I understand this ...
- 173
6
votes
1
answer
239
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Why does a white dwarf sometimes go 'nova' and sometimes supernova (type 1a)?
Obviously, when a white dwarf goes truly supernova, there is nothing left, not even, I have heard, a neutron star or black hole...
But when certain white dwarf stars accrete certain amounts or types ...
- 5,585
5
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1
answer
663
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How does the Chandrasekhar limit relate to the ignition of carbon in white dwarf stars?
Why carbon in white dwarfs ignites (deflagrate, detonate) at the Chandrasekhar limit? The limit relates stability of the star made of degenerate electron Fermi gas to the white dwarf mass without a ...
- 1,074
3
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1
answer
169
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After a Type Ia supernova explosion, what becomes of the degenerate matter?
A white dwarf below 1.44 solar mass in a binary system may accrete mass from its companion. If its core reaches the temperature for carbon fusion during this process, the white dwarf may reignite in a ...
- 133
6
votes
1
answer
257
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Do “neutrino supernovae” exist?
Core collapse supernovae release most of their energy in the form of neutrinos. About 1% of the neutrinos are absorbed by the thick outer envelope which powers a spectacular supernova explosion.
Core ...
- 285
7
votes
1
answer
327
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The two channels of Type Ia SNe and their use as standard candles
As we know, Type Ia supernovae are used as standard candles since their absolute luminosities are expected to be roughly constant. The consensus model, as seen from the Wikipedia page, suggests this ...
- 578
5
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0
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75
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Type Ia supernova by fallback?
Is it possible for a massive star of more than 1.4 solar masses (probably around 3 or more but below the threshold for type II) to collapse into a white dwarf and a planetary nebula, then go supernova ...
- 6,733
8
votes
1
answer
178
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Do all C-O white dwarfs have more-or-less the same proportions of carbon and oxygen?
Type 1a supernovae are known for having very consistent energy yields, and they are caused when a carbon-oxygen white dwarf reaches the Chandrasekhar limit of about 1.4 solar masses. Since type 1a ...
- 1,768
1
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2
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179
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What does an electron-capture supernova leave behind? A white dwarf, a neutron star or nothing?
Somehow, none of the many articles I've read about the recent discovery of electron-capture supernovae has specifically said what they leave behind as remnants.....
- 5,585
3
votes
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answers
137
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Uranium accumulating inside a White Dwarf?
A couple of days ago, there was news that "Some dead stars may harbor enough uranium to set off a thermonuclear bomb", which is basically a teaser for Actinide crystallization and fission ...
- 5,657
2
votes
0
answers
115
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What would happen if a neutron star merged with a white dwarf?
We've heard of neutron star mergers and white dwarf mergers. But what would result in a neutron star merging with a white dwarf? Would there be a similar super/kilonova, are there any examples of it, ...
3
votes
0
answers
64
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How long does it take for a white dwarf to undergo a type Ia supernova?
I read about white dwarfs and their relation to Type Ia supernovae, and I want to know how much time passes between when the white dwarf passes the Chandrasekhar limit and when the white dwarf ...
- 6,733
13
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5
answers
4k
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Is there a possibility that a white dwarf can turn into a neutron star or a black hole?
I know that a white dwarf is supported mainly by electron degeneracy pressure and that if it gains more than about 1.4 solar masses from any source (such as a companion star or a collision), it ...
- 251
5
votes
1
answer
161
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How does a planet lose mass to its host star?
How do bodies like WASP-12b lose mass to its central body? The process is never really explained in popular media, instead showing visualisations of a thin veil of gas being "sucked" in a rather ...
- 429
13
votes
4
answers
4k
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Will Sirius B start accreting from A and become a supernova type Ia?
Sirius B is a massive white dwarf of 1 Solar mass, orbiting at about 25 AU distance from the 2 Solar mass Sirius A. As it evolves and expands, will the A star start shedding matter to the white dwarf, ...
- 11.5k
2
votes
1
answer
130
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white-dwarf merge in binaries
Two white dwarfs with a total mass $>1.4\:M_{\odot}$ merge. It may trigger a type Ia SN explosion.
How about the three cases below?
Two low mass WDs merge, total mass $<1.4\:M_{\odot}$.
A low ...
- 3,157
8
votes
2
answers
2k
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Why does the Chandrasekhar limit affect white dwarfs differently?
The Chandrasekhar limit is the maximum mass of a stable white dwarf star. Beyond this, a carbon-oxygen white dwarf will typically explode in a type 1a supernova, due to the nuclear reactions at those ...
- 8,186
12
votes
1
answer
250
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How is the first detonation in Supernove type Ia triggered?
Ok, I read about the Supernova of type Ia and I found out that there are two detonations happening. First one is in helium shell around the white dwarf and second one seems to be triggered by the ...
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