Astrophysicists have discovered a rare phenomenon that accompanies the explosion of a white dwarf or a supernova of type Ia. We are talking about the UV flash, which allows you to learn more about the mechanisms occurring during catastrophic events. About it reported in a press release on the website Phys.org.
Scientists have discovered an unusual supernova, designated as SN2019yvq in December 2019. It originated in a relatively close galaxy, which is remote from the milky Way at 140 million light years. SN2019yvq belongs to the type Ia, that is originated in a binary system, one component of which is a white dwarf attracts matter from the star-neighbor. Supernovae of this type are themselves of a fairly common cosmic event, but in this case, the researchers observed the UV flash.
Earlier, UV flash was recorded only once. It shows the process of emitting huge amount of heat, although supernovae are generally more cold. One possible reason can be extremely hot radioactive material in the core of a white dwarf, which mixes with the overlying layers, causing the outer shell is heated. Another scenario envisages that the outer layer of helium burning causes the carbon and double blast with the UV flash. Other possibilities exist, however, scientists will be able to determine which of them is more likely, in about a year.
Once you find the cause of the explosion, it will help to learn more about the formation of planets and dark energy. A significant fraction of iron that make up the core of rocky planets, including Earth, formed in the explosion of white dwarfs. In addition, supernovae of type Ia are “standard candles”, i.e. have the same brightness, allowing astronomers to determine the distance to distant objects and calculate the rate of expansion of the Universe is determined by dark energy.
