Transients following white dwarfs mergers

TL;DR

This paper reviews the potential transient astrophysical events resulting from white dwarf mergers, including supernovae and gamma-ray bursts, and compares theoretical models with recent observational data.

Contribution

It discusses the outcomes of white dwarf mergers, emphasizing the match between models and recent observations of specific merger remnants.

Findings

White dwarf mergers can produce diverse transients like supernovae and gamma-ray bursts.

Models of WD mergers align with recent observational data of specific merger products.

The study supports the link between WD mergers and certain types of transients.

Abstract

Mergers of white dwarfs (WDs) may lead to a variety of transient astrophysical events, SNIa being one possible outcome. Lyutikov & Toonen (2017, 2019) argued that mergers of WDs result, under various parameter regimes, in unusual central engine-powered supernova and a type of short Gamma Ray Bursts that show extended emission tails. Observations by Gvaramadze et al. (2019) of the central star and the nebula J005311 match to the details the model of Lyutikov & Toonen (2017, 2019) for the immediate product of a merger of a heavy ONeMg WD with CO WD (age, luminosity, stellar size, hydrogen deficiency and chemical composition).