Figure 1 Single-Degenerate Type Ia Supernova Scenario (image)

Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe

Caption

An artist's conception of a single-degenerate Type Ia supernova scenario. Due to the stronger gravitational force from the white dwarf on the left, the outer material of the bigger, slightly evolving main-sequence star on the right is torn away and it flows onto the white dwarf, eventually increasing the mass of the white dwarf toward the Chandrasekhar mass. This carbon-oxygen white dwarf will later explode as a Type Ia supernova.

Credit

Kavli IPMU

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