ATLAS J1138-5139 to explode as supernova, emit detectable gravitational waves
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- ATLAS J1138-5139 will evolve into an AM Canum Venaticorum (AM CVn) system in approximately 6.3 million years, following a second phase of helium-dominated mass transfer.
- Chinese astronomers led by Jing-Qi Chen used the MESA stellar evolution code to model the binary system's long-term evolution, matching its observed properties.
- The carbon monoxide white dwarf in ATLAS J1138-5139 will accumulate about 0.12 solar masses of helium, triggering a double-detonation explosion and resulting in a Type Ia supernova.
- Gravitational wave detectors LISA, TianQin, and Taiji are expected to detect ATLAS J1138-5139, as its signal-to-noise ratio exceeds their detection thresholds.
- The system's orbital period of 27.86 minutes makes it one of the shortest-period double white dwarf binaries known, enhancing its value for gravitational wave astronomy.
Why it matters: This prediction identifies ATLAS J1138-5139 as both a future Type Ia supernova progenitor and a guaranteed gravitational wave source for upcoming space missions, giving astronomers a rare dual-purpose target to refine models of stellar evolution and calibrate detectors. The 0.12 solar mass helium shell accumulation is a concrete threshold that makes the explosion physically plausible, not speculative.
