Infrared diagnostic of a dusty plasma with applications to supernova remnants

Journal Article · Sun Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/165774· OSTI ID:5404361

Dwek, E

IRAS observations of infrared emission from supernova remnants constitute the first observational evidence of shock-heated dust in the interstellar medium. These observations can provide valuable information on the morphology of supernova remnants, and on their interaction with the ambient interstellar medium. In particular, they can be used to study the physical condition and the cooling rate of dusty astrophysical plasmas. In this paper, consideration is given to the possibilities and limitations of using the infrared observations as a diagnostic for the shocked gas, and as a means of determining remnant parameters. The paper presents improved calculations for the cooling rate of a dusty plasma by means of gas-grain collisions, and the equilibrium temperature of the dust for a variety of plasma conditions. These results are then used to define the density-temperature parameter space of the plasma, which, given its infrared spectrum, should be occupied by the observed remnant. This constraint can be used to estimate distances to supernova remnants and to set limits on various parameters that determine their evolution. The analysis is applied to the remnants Cas A and the Cygnus Loop. 39 references.

• Research Organization: NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
• OSTI ID: 5404361
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 322; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COOLING
COSMIC DUST
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
DISTANCE
DUSTS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
INFRARED RADIATION
INTERACTIONS
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
LIMITING VALUES
MORPHOLOGY
PLASMA
RADIATIONS
SHOCK WAVES
SPACE
SUPERNOVA REMNANTS