Are young supernova remnants interacting with circumstellar gas

Journal Article · Sun Aug 15 00:00:00 EDT 1982 · Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/183853· OSTI ID:6866084

Chevalier, R A

The young remnants of galactic Type I supernovae (SN 1006, SN 1572, and SN 1604) appear to be interacting with moderately dense gas (n/sub O/> or =0.1 cm/sup -3/). If the gas in the ambient interstellar medium, the observations suggest that gas of this density is fairly pervasive. If the gas is circumstellar, there are important implications for the progenitors of Type I supernovae. A plausible density distribution for circumstellar gas is rhoinfinityr/sup -2/. The expansion of a supernova into such a medium is examined and is compared with expansion into a uniform medium. The two cases can be distinguished on the basis of their density profiles and their rates of expansion. Currently available data factor the hypothesis of expansion in a uniform medium for all three Type I remnants; the evidence is the strongest for SN 1572 and the weakest for SN 1604. Further X-ray and radio observations of the galactic remnants and of extragalactic Type I supernovae should serve to test this hypothesis.

• Research Organization: Department of Astronomy, University of Virginia
• OSTI ID: 6866084
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J., Lett. Ed.; (United States), Vol. 259:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
SUPERNOVA REMNANTS
SHOCK WAVES
X RADIATION
COSMIC GASES
EXPANSION
STELLAR ATMOSPHERES
STELLAR WINDS
SUPERNOVAE
ATMOSPHERES
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ERUPTIVE VARIABLE STARS
FLUIDS
GASES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
RADIATIONS
STARS
VARIABLE STARS
640102* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources