How does a supernova differ fundamentally from the typical nova event observed in T CrB?
Answer
A supernova marks the true death of a massive star or runaway detonation past a mass limit.
The difference between a standard nova and a supernova is rooted in the scale of the event and the ultimate fate of the star involved. A standard nova is a surface event on a white dwarf that survives, caused by a thermonuclear flash of accreted hydrogen. In contrast, a supernova signifies a far more catastrophic event, either resulting from the complete collapse and death of a truly massive star or involving a white dwarf that has accumulated so much mass that it exceeds its stability limit, leading to a runaway thermonuclear detonation that destroys the star entirely. Kepler's Supernova comparison explicitly illustrates this vast energetic gap.
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