What specific mass limit must a white dwarf exceed in a binary system to trigger a thermonuclear explosion known as a Type Ia supernova?
Answer
The Chandrasekhar Limit of about $1.44 M_\odot$
A Type Ia supernova is a distinct type of stellar explosion that occurs when a white dwarf, typically the remnant of a low-mass star, resides in a binary star system. If this white dwarf accretes matter from its companion star, its mass increases. If the white dwarf's mass surpasses a critical threshold known as the Chandrasekhar Limit, which is approximately $1.44$ times the mass of the Sun ($M_\odot$), the degeneracy pressure supporting it fails, initiating runaway fusion across the entire star. This results in a complete thermonuclear explosion and the total destruction of the white dwarf.
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