Nuclear fission chain reaction in cooling white dwarf stars
Abstract
The first solids that form as a white dwarf (WD) starts to crystallize are expected to be greatly enriched in actinides. Previously [PRL 126, 1311010] we found that these solids might support a nuclear fission chain reaction that could ignite carbon burning and provide a new Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) mechanism involving an isolated WD. Here we explore this fission mechanism in more detail and calculate the final temperature and density after the chain reaction and discuss a number of open physics questions.
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