Under what conditions are Type Ia supernovae believed to occur?
A)when the core of a massive star collapses
B)when a white dwarf exceeds the Chandrasekhar-Landau limit
C)when hydrogen detonation occurs
D)when neutrinos in a massive star form a shock wave that explodes the star

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Type Ia supernovae occur when a white dwarf star in a binary system exceeds the Chandrasekhar-Landau limit (approx. 1.4 solar masses) due to accretion from its companion star. This initiates a runaway nuclear fusion reaction that completely destroys the white dwarf, releasing a tremendous amount of energy and creating a very bright explosion.

Under What Conditions Are Type Ia Supernovae Believed to Occur