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Paper: Evolution of binaries producing Type Ia supernovae, luminous supersoft X-ray sources, and recurrent novae
Volume: 261, The Physics of Cataclysmic Variables and Related Objects
Page: 605
Authors: Hachisu, I.
Abstract: We have been proposing two evolutionary paths to Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia), which are called the supersoft X-ray source (SSS) channel and the symbiotic channel, depending on the orbital separation just prior to an SN Ia explosion. The essential difference of our treatment is the inclusion of strong, optically thick winds on mass-accreting white dwarfs (WDs) in the elementary processes of binary evolution when the mass accretion rate on to WDs exceeds a critical rate of dot Mcr ~1 times 10-6 Modot yr-1. Once optically thick winds begin to blow from the WD, the binary can avoid forming a common envelope in some cases. We call this accretion wind. So that the WDs are able to grow up to the Chandrasekhar mass and explode as an SN Ia, showing SSS or recurrent nova phenomena in the way to SNe Ia. Thus, the accretion wind process of WDs can open new channels to SNe Ia. We have modeled the LMC supersoft source RX J0513.9--6951 as an example of the systems in the accretion wind phase. Further inclusions of two other elementary processes make the channels much wider; these are the case BB mass transfer in the SSS channel and the strong orbital shrinkage during the superwind phase of the primary star in the symbiotic channel. As a result, the estimated birth rate of SNe Ia via these two channels becomes compatible with the observation in our Galaxy. Interestingly, the U Sco and T CrB subclasses of recurrent novae can be naturally understood as a part of the evolutionary stages in these two SSS and symbiotic channels to SNe Ia, respectively. Thus we have a unified picture of binary evolutions to SNe Ia, luminous SSS, and recurrent novae.
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