Observable Signatures of the Accretion-Induced Collapse of White Dwarfs

TL;DR

This paper reviews the potential observable signals of accretion-induced collapse of white dwarfs, highlighting its significance as a transient event in optical and high-energy astronomy.

Contribution

It provides a summary of the expected observational signatures of AIC, emphasizing its role as a transient phenomenon in various wavelengths.

Findings

AIC may produce detectable optical transients.

AIC could generate high-energy signals such as gamma rays or X-rays.

Observational signatures of AIC remain to be conclusively identified.

Abstract

Despite its probable occurrence in Nature, the accretion-induced collapse (AIC) of a white dwarf has not yet been directly observed (or, at least, it has not been unambiguously identified as such). In this contribution we summarize the observational signatures of AIC, emphasizing its possible role as both an optical and high-energy transient.