Gravitational Wave Emission from the Single-Degenerate Channel of Type Ia Supernovae

TL;DR

This paper presents the first detailed calculations of gravitational wave emission from Type Ia supernovae in the single-degenerate channel, predicting a detectable polarized GW burst around 1 Hz that could reveal early explosion dynamics.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed modeling of GW signals from SNe Ia in the single-degenerate channel, highlighting potential detectability by future spaceborne observatories.

Findings

GW burst predicted around 1 Hz frequency

Potential detection up to 1 Mpc distance

GW signals can probe early supernova detonation phases

Abstract

The thermonuclear explosion of a C/O white dwarf as a Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) generates a kinetic energy comparable to that released by a massive star during a SN II event. Current observations and theoretical models have established that SNe Ia are asymmetric, and therefore--like SNe II--potential sources of gravitational wave (GW) radiation. We perform the first detailed calculations of the GW emission for a SN Ia of any type within the single-degenerate channel. The gravitationally-confined detonation (GCD) mechanism predicts a strongly-polarized GW burst in the frequency band around 1 Hz. Third-generation spaceborne GW observatories currently in planning may be able to detect this predicted signal from SNe Ia at distances up to 1 Mpc. If observable, GWs may offer a direct probe into the first few seconds of the SNe Ia detonation.