Induction of supernova-like explosions by gamma-ray bursts in close binary systems

We propose that a gamma-ray burst in one member of a binary may induce a supernova-like explosion of a close, white-dwarf companion. Such an explosion might be brought about in rather light companions, which cannot undergo the standard accretion-induced explosion. This would give some GRB-associated supernova an appearance rather unlike that of the typical Type I. GRB 980425, if indeed associated with SN 1998bw, is too weak to have produced it through our proposed mechanism.