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Starburst: a supernova after a double explosion

Starburst: a supernova after a double explosion

The classic scenario for a Type Ia supernova is: a white dwarf dies as the remnant of a low-mass star and no longer releases any energy by itself. So where should he get the energy for an explosion that could briefly shine as bright as the entire galaxy around it? Answer: From the star companion. A white dwarf can absorb mass from this. If the mass of the white dwarf exceeds the so-called Chandrasekhar limit by about 1.4 solar masses, the gravity becomes very strong and the white dwarf explodes.