Constraints on the delayed transition to detonation in Type Ia supernovae

We investigate the possibility of a delayed detonation in a Type Ia superno va under the assumption that the transition to detonation is triggered by t urbulence only. Our discussion is based on the Zeldovich mechanism and sugg ests that typical turbulent velocities present during the explosion are not strong enough to allow this transition to occur. Although we are able to s how that in carbon-rich matter (e.g., X(C-12) = 0.75) the possibility of a deflagration to detonation transition (DDT) is enhanced, even in this case, the turbulent velocities needed are larger than the expected value of u'(L ) approximate to 10(7) cm s(-1) on a length-scale of L approximate to 10(6) cm. Thus we conclude that a DDT may not be a common event during a thermon uclear explosion of a Chandrasekhar-mass white dwarf.