ARE THE OBSERVED FREQUENCIES OF DOUBLE DEGENERATES AND SN IA CONTRADICTORY

We calculate the expected birthrate and number of double white dwarf s ystems in the Galaxy. The predicted rate of mergers of white dwarf pai rs with a total mass exceeding the Chandrasekhar mass is consistent wi th the rate of Type la supernovae. We show that the results of surveys which attempted to discover double white dwarf systems are not in con flict with the predictions of binary evolution theory. We identify the orbital period range 2-30 hr as one in which searches for double whit e dwarf systems are most likely to be successful.