Are Cataclysmic Variables the Progenitors of Thermonuclear Supernovae?

Abstract.

In 1973, Whelan and Iben suggested that binary stars, similar in structure to Cataclysmic Variables but not called that by them, were the progenitors of SN Ia’s. Their evidence included the fact that thermonuclear supernovae appear to come from compact objects with similar properties. In addition, they appear late in the evolution of our galaxy when compared to the appearance of SN II and they also appear in elliptical galaxies which presumably have an older population. Since that time a large number of different types of binary stars have been proposed as the progenitors but no viable solution has appeared. I will discuss the properties of the various types of CV’s, including the Super Soft X-ray Sources, and present some of the pro’s and cons’s for them actually being the progenitors.