scholarly journals Making the Standard Candle: A study of how the progenitor white dwarf modulates the peak luminosity of type Ia supernovae

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward F Brown
2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (05) ◽  
pp. 2150034
Author(s):  
Surajit Kalita ◽  
Banibrata Mukhopadhyay ◽  
T. R. Govindarajan

Chandrasekhar made the startling discovery about nine decades back that the mass of compact object white dwarf has a limiting value once nuclear fusion reactions stop therein. This is the Chandrasekhar mass-limit, which is [Formula: see text] for a nonrotating non-magnetized white dwarf. On approaching this limiting mass, a white dwarf is believed to spark off with an explosion called type Ia supernova, which is considered to be a standard candle. However, observations of several over-luminous, peculiar type Ia supernovae indicate the Chandrasekhar mass-limit to be significantly larger. By considering noncommutativity among the components of position and momentum variables, hence uncertainty in their measurements, at the quantum scales, we show that the mass of white dwarfs could be significantly super-Chandrasekhar and thereby arrive at a new mass-limit [Formula: see text], explaining a possible origin of over-luminous peculiar type Ia supernovae. The idea of noncommutativity, apart from the Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, is there for quite sometime, without any observational proof however. Our finding offers a plausible astrophysical evidence of noncommutativity, arguing for a possible second standard candle, which has many far-reaching implications.


2004 ◽  
Vol 194 ◽  
pp. 111-112
Author(s):  
Lilia Ferrario

AbstractI argue that the observational evidence for white dwarf-white dwarf mergers supports the view that they give rise to ultra-massive white dwarfs or neutron stars through accretion induced collapse. The implications for the progenitors of Type Ia SNe are discussed.


1991 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 261-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. J. Couch ◽  
S. Perlmutter ◽  
H. J. M. Newburg ◽  
C. Pennypacker ◽  
G. Goldhaber ◽  
...  

AbstractA search for Type Ia supernovae at cosmological distances is being undertaken in an attempt to exploit their standard candle property to constrain the mass density of the universe. We describe the rationale for such a program, the observational approach and strategy taken, and the progress made to date. The science that is being generated by the project in additional to supernova detection is also discussed briefly.


2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (S281) ◽  
pp. 162-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Mikołajewska

AbstractSymbiotic stars are interacting binaries in which the first-formed white dwarf accretes and burns material from a red giant companion. This paper aims at presenting physical characteristics of these objects and discussing their possible link with progenitors of Type Ia supernovae.


1992 ◽  
Vol 151 ◽  
pp. 225-234
Author(s):  
J. Craig Wheeler

Spectral calculations show that a model based on the thermonuclear explosion of a degenerate carbon/oxygen white dwarf provides excellent agreement with observations of Type Ia supernovae. Identification of suitable evolutionary progenitors remains a severe problem. General problems with estimation of supernova rates are outlined and the origin of Type Ia supernovae from double degenerate systems are discussed in the context of new rates of explosion per H band luminosity, the lack of observed candidates, and the likely presence of H in the vicinity of some SN Ia events. Re-examination of the problems of triggering Type Ia by accretion of hydrogen from a companion shows that there may be an avenue involving cataclysmic variables, especially if extreme hibernation occurs. Novae may channel accreting white dwarfs to a unique locus in accretion rate/mass space. Systems that undergo secular evolution to higher mass transfer rates could lead to just the conditions necessary for a Type Ia explosion. Tests involving fluorescence or absorption in a surrounding circumstellar medium and the detection of hydrogen stripped from a companion, which should appear at low velocity inside the white dwarf ejecta, are suggested. Possible observational confirmation of the former is described.


2004 ◽  
Vol 215 ◽  
pp. 571-572 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.-C. Yoon ◽  
N. Langer

Classical studies of accreting white dwarfs have assumed spherical symmetry. However, it is believed that in close binary systems the transfered matter carries angular momentum to spin up the accreting star. Here, we present preliminary results of CO white dwarf models which accrete helium rich matter with effects of rotation considered, in the context of the Sub-Chandrasekhar mass scenario for Type Ia supernovae.


2003 ◽  
Vol 590 (2) ◽  
pp. L83-L86 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. X. Timmes ◽  
Edward F. Brown ◽  
J. W. Truran

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