Called a carbon-detonation supernova, the process begins with a recurring nova. When a nova explosion occurs, not all of the matter it has accumulated from its companion star is released from the white dwarf. As nova after nova happens, the matter that isn't released builds up, and the white dwarf increases in mass. When it reaches the Chandrasekhar Limiting Mass, it becomes unstable. The electrons in the white dwarf are compacted the point where they are touching each other, and it becomes unable to withstand the gravity and the star collapses. Carbon fusion begins, and the star explodes as a supernova, leaving only scattered matter behind.

There are other theories on how these type of violent explosions happen. Another possibility for this type of supernova, is that two white dwarfs collide and become one unstable, massive star, that collapses, and then explodes.