Is there is a type of super nova event that involves a white dwarf star and a giant star?

Question

I was told a type of super nova event occured when a white dwarf star stole mass from another nearby star. But according to answers to a related question this is false. Who is right about this type SN event?

Answer 1

It could be black holes. A giant star steals mass from the little dwarf star and then suddenly, the giant star explodes and is crushed by it's own gravity. The giant explosion does not alter the white dwarf star. It is still loosing mass but there is nothing there anymore. I think you got it backwards, honey. The larger gravity takes the smaller mass. It just works that way. The smaller mass can't take in from a larger mass because the larger body has more pull strength. Now does that make sense?

Answer 2

Yes indeed; that is called a Type 1A supernova. Type 1A supernovas are very useful for determining the distance to the furthest observable reaches of the universe; that's because the white dwarf star, which is sucking mass of the giant star, is steadily and slowly approaching the critical mass at which it will explode. When it reaches that mass it explodes in a very, very consistent way; all Type 1A supernovae look pretty much the same as a result. Thus, these kind of explosions are used as a standard for measuring the red-shift and other properties of distant space even billions of light-years away.

They are not very common events; they may happen once every billion years in a given galaxy. But since there are trillions of galaxies in known space, these events can be seen somewhere in the universe every few weeks or so. You need a REALLY powerful telescope to see them, though.

Answer 3

This is a real type of SN. It's called a Type Ia supernova. Generally, an accreting white dwarf (a white dwarf orbiting a larger star closely enough to draw matter off of it) will experience multiple novae, where the material it accretes begins fusing quickly causing it to shed this accumulated matter into space and brightening temporarily, and then repeating the process.

A large enough white dwarf can actually build up extra matter that it doesn't shed over time and can then at some point undergo a supernova where it completely explodes into space, dying off forever. This is the type Ia supernova.

Other supernova types are caused by very large stars collapsing and exploding.

Answer 4

A white dwarf is the result of a massive star blowing up as a super nova,the remains is the core of extremely dense piece of matter about 100 km diameter that shines fairly dimly The super nova occurs when a massive star exhausts all it's fuel.
It collapses,then rebounds in an incredible blast of light and matter that eventually results in a solar system like ours.

Answer 5

Here's a link about type 1A supernova. They are good for measuring distances out to about 3.3 billion light years, maybe more.

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Supernova SN 1997ff, a type 1a, is 10 billion light years away!