Observational Signatures of SNIa Progenitors, as Predicted by Models

Abstract

A definitive determination of the progenitors of type Ia supernovae (SNIa) has been a conundrum for decades. The single degenerate scenario $-$ a white dwarf (WD) in a semi-detached binary system accreting mass from its secondary $-$ is a plausible path; however, no simulation to date has shown that such an outcome is possible. In this study, we allowed a WD with a near Chandrasekhar mass of $1.4M_{\odot }$ to evolve over tens of thousands of nova cycles, accumulating mass secularly while undergoing periodic nova eruptions. We present the mass accretion limits within which a SNIa can possibly occur. The results showed, for each parameter combination within the permitted limits, tens of thousands of virtually identical nova cycles where the accreted mass exceeded the ejected mass, i.e. the WD grew slowly but steadily in mass. Finally, the WD became unstable, the maximal temperature rose by nearly two orders of magnitude, heavy element production was enhanced by orders of magnitude and the nuclear and neutrino luminosities became enormous. We also found that this mechanism leading to WD collapse is robust, with WDs in the range $1.0-1.38M_{\odot }$, and an accretion rate of $5\ast 10^{-7}{M}_{\odot }/yr$, all growing steadily in mass. These simulations of the onset of a SNIa event make observationally testable predictions about the light curves of pre-SN stars, and about the chemistry of SNIa ejecta.

8 pages, 7 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in MNRAS

References in corpus (4)

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• A Thousand and One Nova Outbursts
• Theoretical Studies of Accretion of Matter onto White Dwarfs and the Single Degenerate Scenario for Supernovae of Type Ia
• Variability in the cycle length of the supersoft source RX J0513.9-6951

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• Simulations of Multiple Nova Eruptions Induced by Wind Accretion in Symbiotic Systems
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• On the Observability of Recurrent Nova Super-Remnants
• The Effect of Enriched Accreted Matter on the Development of Novae
• X-ray observations of historical classical nova counterparts with eROSITA telescope aboard SRG orbital observatory during the all-sky survey
• Measuring the physical imprints of gas flows in galaxies I: Accretion rate histories
• ASASSN-16oh: A nova outburst with no mass ejection -- A new type of supersoft X-ray source in old populations
• A unified theory of cataclysmic variables from self-consistent numerical simulations