Progenitors of type Ia supernovae

TL;DR

This paper reviews the current understanding of type Ia supernova progenitors, discussing the main scenarios, recent observational and theoretical developments, and the diversity of supernovae, highlighting the need to connect different progenitor models.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive summary of recent progress and challenges in identifying the progenitors of type Ia supernovae, emphasizing the complexity and diversity of the phenomena.

Findings

Diversity in SNe Ia observations suggests multiple progenitor channels.

Recent data and theories have advanced understanding but no definitive progenitor model is confirmed.

Linking different progenitor scenarios to supernova subclasses is crucial.

Abstract

Natures of progenitors of type Ia Supernovae (SNe Ia) have not yet been clarified. There has been long and intensive discussion on whether the so-called single degenerate (SD) scenario or the double degenerate (DD) scenario, or anything else, could explain a major population of SNe Ia, but the conclusion has not yet been reached. With rapidly increasing observational data and new theoretical ideas, the field of studying the SN Ia progenitors has been quickly developing, and various new insights have been obtained in recent years. This article aims at providing a summary of the current situation regarding the SN Ia progenitors, both in theory and observations. It seems difficult to explain the emerging diversity seen in observations of SNe Ia by a single population, and we emphasize that it is important to clarify links between different progenitor scenarios and different sub-classes of SNe Ia.