Double Detonation: A New Theory for Type Ia Supernovae
2025-07-03
The origin of Type Ia supernovae has long puzzled astronomers. The traditional view involves a white dwarf accreting mass until it reaches the Chandrasekhar limit, triggering an explosion. However, observations suggest a higher frequency than this mechanism predicts. A promising new theory, the 'double detonation' model, suggests that helium accumulating on a white dwarf's surface fuses (first detonation), triggering the fusion of carbon and oxygen in the core (second detonation), leading to a supernova. This bypasses the need for the Chandrasekhar limit, potentially explaining the observed frequency, but the rapid succession of explosions and complex environment make observational verification challenging.