Evidence from the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope indicates that SNR 0509-67.5, a Type Ia supernova, may have detonated due to an elemental collision. This suggests white dwarf stars can explode before reaching the Chandrasekhar limit if they accumulate enough helium. Such explosions are critical for astronomy, serving as standard candles to measure cosmic expansion. Current data reveals more Type Ia supernovae than previously predicted, which this new understanding helps clarify, particularly regarding their early ignition mechanism and implications for cosmic measurements.
The explosions of white dwarfs play a crucial role in astronomy, yet, despite their importance, the long-standing puzzle of the exact mechanism triggering their explosion remains unsolved.
If a white dwarf collects enough helium, the second most abundant element in the universe, this can form a shell around the star and ignite, compressing it and causing an early eruption before the Chandrasekhar limit is reached.
Collection
[
|
...
]