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A white dwarf supernova can only happen in binary pairs where the white dwarf rips matter from the larger star and eventually becomes unstable and it collapses in on itself.

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13y ago
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6mo ago

A white dwarf supernova occurs when a white dwarf star in a binary system accretes material from a companion star, causing it to exceed the Chandrasekhar limit (1.4 solar masses). The core then undergoes a runaway nuclear fusion reaction, leading to a catastrophic explosion that destroys the white dwarf.

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Q: What causes a white dwarf supernova?
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Related questions

What causes a giant star to turn into a white dwarf?

A giant star would experience a supernova explosion, in order to become a white dwarf.


What produces a type-I supernova?

A type-I supernova occurs when a white dwarf star accumulates mass from a companion star until it reaches a critical threshold, triggering a runaway nuclear fusion reaction. This causes the white dwarf to explode in a bright supernova event.


What is the order from smallest to largest sun supernova red giant white dwarf?

White Dwarf, Sun, Red Giant, Supernova


What kind of star is most likely to become a white-dwarf supernova?

A white dwarf supernova occurs when a white dwarf in a binary system accretes matter from its companion star, surpassing its Chandrasekhar limit. This type of supernova is not usually associated with a specific type of star, but with the evolutionary path of the white dwarf in a binary system.


What is the phase of a star approaches supernova?

White Dwarf.


What happens with the white dwarf in a type 1a supernova?

The white dwarf collapses under its own gravity. This starts very rapid nuclear fusion reactions. It explodes as a supernova and "stuff" is scattered into space. Essentially nothing of the white dwarf, as an object, remains.


Is your sun a supernova or a white dwarf?

Our Sun is currently a main sequence star. It is not a supernova, as supernovae are massive explosions that occur at the end of a star's life cycle, and it is not a white dwarf, which is a type of star that has exhausted its nuclear fuel and collapsed to a very dense state.


Will Sirius b become a supernova?

No. It's a white dwarf, meaning that it has no more fuel left for such things.


Will Sirius become a supernova?

No, Sirius will not become a supernova. It is a relatively young star compared to those that typically go supernova, and its mass is not sufficient to trigger such an explosive event. Sirius is expected to eventually evolve into a white dwarf.


What is the maximum size of a white dwarf?

The maximum size of a white dwarf is about 1.4 times the mass of the Sun, known as the Chandrasekhar limit. If a white dwarf exceeds this limit, it can collapse further and ignite as a supernova.


What is a Chandrasekhar mass and how does it relate to a supernova?

A Chandrasekhar mass is the maximum mass limit (about 1.4 times the mass of the Sun) that a white dwarf star can have before it collapses under its own gravity and triggers a supernova explosion. When a white dwarf accretes matter from a companion star or merges with another white dwarf, exceeding the Chandrasekhar mass, it can collapse and explode as a Type Ia supernova.


When a white dwarf exceeds the Chandrasekhar limit what happens?

When a white dwarf exceeds the Chandrasekhar limit of about 1.4 times the mass of the Sun, electron degeneracy pressure is no longer able to support the star against gravity. This leads to the collapse of the white dwarf, resulting in a supernova explosion.