Single-Degenerate Type 1a Supernovae Simulations

Binary Chandrasekhar-mass white dwarfs accreting mass from non-degenerate stellar companions through the single-degenerate channel have reigned for decades as the leading explanation of Type Ia supernovae. Yet, a coherent theoretical explanation has not yet emerged to explain the expected properties of the canonical near-Chandrasekhar-mass white dwarf model.

Such near-Chandrasekhar-mass SNe Ia are preceded by a simmering phase within the convective core of the white dwarf, leading to the ignition of one or more flame bubbles scattered across the core. Consequently, near-Chandrasekhar-mass single-degenerate SNe Ia are inherently stochastic, and are expected to lead to a range of outcomes, from subluminous SN 2002cx-like events, to overluminous SN 1991T-like events.

We quantify such statements with state of the art three-dimensional simulations using the FLASH code.