Explosion models for thermonuclear supernovae resulting from different ignition conditions

We have explored in three dimensions the fate of a massive white dwarf as a function of different initial locations of carbon ignition, with the aid of a SPH code. The calculated models cover a variety of possibilities ranging from the simultaneous ignition of the central volume of the star to the off-center ignition in multiple scattered spots. In the former case, there are discussed the possibility of a transition to a detonation when the mean density of the nuclear flame decreases below 2x10**7 g cm**-3, and its consequences. In the last case, the dependence of the results on the number of initial igniting spots and the chance of some of these models to evolve to the pulsating delayed detonation scenario are also outlined.