Date:
Thu, 03/04/201414:00-15:00
We believe type Ia supernovae are direct collisions of white dwarfs in triple systems
Abstract:
Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia), thermonuclear explosions of carbon-oxygen white dwarfs (CO-WDs), are currently the best cosmological ``standard candles'', but the triggering mechanism of the explosion is unknown. It was recently shown that the rate of direct collisions of typical field CO-WDs in triple systems may be comparable to the SNe Ia rate. I will provide evidence supporting a scenario in which the majority of SNe Ia are the result of such direct collisions of CO-WDs. In this case, the nuclear detonation is due to a well understood shock ignition, devoid of commonly introduced free parameters such as the deflagration velocity or transition to detonation criteria.
Abstract:
Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia), thermonuclear explosions of carbon-oxygen white dwarfs (CO-WDs), are currently the best cosmological ``standard candles'', but the triggering mechanism of the explosion is unknown. It was recently shown that the rate of direct collisions of typical field CO-WDs in triple systems may be comparable to the SNe Ia rate. I will provide evidence supporting a scenario in which the majority of SNe Ia are the result of such direct collisions of CO-WDs. In this case, the nuclear detonation is due to a well understood shock ignition, devoid of commonly introduced free parameters such as the deflagration velocity or transition to detonation criteria.