Type Ia supernovae and supersoft X-ray sources

Abstract

The rates of SNe Ia for double-degenerate and single-degenerate scenarios are computed for the models of spiral and elliptical galaxies. The number of nuclear burning white dwarfs (NBWDs) is traced. The data favors the double-degenerate scenario and suggests a lower number of NBWDs per unit mass in ellipticals. Their lower average mass is one of the reasons for the difference in the number of supersoft X-ray sources observed in the galaxies of different types. Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2013.