Suppose that a white dwarf is gaining mass through accretion in a binary system. What happens if the mass someday reaches the 1.4 solar mass limit?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When a white dwarf gains mass and reaches the 1.4 solar mass limit, known as the Chandrasekhar limit, it can no longer support its own weight through electron degeneracy and collapses under its own gravity. This collapse triggers a runaway fusion reaction and results in a complete explosion of the white dwarf as a type Ia supernova.

Suppose That a White Dwarf Is Gaining Mass Through Accretion