What event can occur if a white dwarf accumulates too much mass from a companion?
Answer
It triggers a Type Ia supernova
Stellar remnants in binary systems can experience changes in their state due to external factors. When a white dwarf is situated near a companion star, it may siphon mass. If this accumulation causes the white dwarf to exceed the stability threshold, such as the Chandrasekhar limit, the resulting pressure change can lead to a catastrophic event known as a Type Ia supernova. This process illustrates that the equilibrium of a stellar remnant is fragile and subject to environmental dynamics.
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An introduction to stellar remnants (ASTR 1000) - YouTube
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