What process causes the orbit of two white dwarfs to decay, potentially leading to a Type Ia supernova?
Answer
Gravitational radiation causing orbital decay
In a binary system involving two white dwarfs, the emission of gravitational radiation causes their orbit to shrink over time until they eventually spiral inward and merge, potentially triggering the thermonuclear runaway.
Related Questions
What event halts the energy-producing process in a massive star destined for a core-collapse supernova?What mechanism supports a white dwarf against gravitational collapse prior to a Type Ia event?What critical mass threshold, when exceeded by an accreting white dwarf, typically triggers a Type Ia supernova?What results from a Type Ia supernova explosion, characterized by thermonuclear runaway?What characteristic spectral feature distinguishes a core-collapse supernova (like Type II) from a Type Ia supernova?What is the mechanism causing the visual supernova explosion in a massive star's core collapse?What fundamental property overwhelmingly determines whether a star will end its life quietly or spectacularly?What categories of elements are primarily seeded into the galaxy by supernovae shockwaves and subsequent cooling phases?What process causes the orbit of two white dwarfs to decay, potentially leading to a Type Ia supernova?When was the last recorded supernova observed within our Milky Way galaxy?