Impacts of the New Carbon Fusion Cross Sections on Type Ia Supernovae

TL;DR

This paper investigates how new measurements of the $^{12}$C+$^{12}$C fusion cross sections influence the understanding of Type Ia supernovae, particularly affecting progenitor models and supernova rates.

Contribution

It analyzes the impact of recent fusion cross section data on the progenitor scenarios and occurrence rates of Type Ia supernovae.

Findings

Increased fusion cross sections lower ignition temperatures.

Higher reaction rates favor accretion-induced collapse over supernova explosions.

The contribution of the double-degenerate scenario to SNe Ia rates decreases.

Abstract

Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) are thought to be thermonuclear explosion of white dwarfs (WDs). Their progenitors are not well understood. One popular scenario is the double-degenerate (DD) scenario, which attributes SNe Ia to WD-WD binary mergers. The fates of the WD mergers depend on the rate of $^{12}$C+$^{12}$C reaction. Recently, the $^{12}$C+$^{12}$C cross sections have been measured and the analysis of the data using the Trojan Horse Method suggested that the astrophysical reaction rate is larger than conventional rates at astrophysical temperatures due to possible resonances. The resonance contribution results in a decrease of the carbon burning ignition temperature. Therefore accretion induced collapse occurs more easily and increases the birthrate of Galactic neutron stars with the contribution of the DD scenario to the SNe Ia rate becoming even smaller.