Laboratory simulation of unmagnetized supernova remnants: Absence of a blast wave

Journal Article · Tue May 15 04:00:00 EDT 1984 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/162054· OSTI ID:6345262

Borovsky, J E; Pongratz, M B; Roussel-Dupre, R A; Tan, T

Supernova remnants are experimentally simulated by irradiating spherical targets with an eight-beam arbon dioxide laser in a chamber containing finite amounts of neutral gas, the gas being ionized by radiation from the hot target. The expansion velocities of the target plasmas are approximately the same as the expansion velocities of supernova ejecta and the experiment is successfully scaled to the case of a supernova remnant in an unmagnetized, low-density, interstellar medium. NO sweep-up of the ambient plasma is detected, inicating that no hydrodynamic shock wave is formed to couple the target ejecta to the ambient gas. The experiment implies that if supernova ejecta couple to the interstellar medium, magnetic-field effects may be crucial to the physical description.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory
• OSTI ID: 6345262
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 280:2; ISSN ASJOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700108 -- Fusion Energy-- Plasma Research-- Wave Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CARBON DIOXIDE LASERS
COSMIC GASES
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
DENSITY
ERUPTIVE VARIABLE STARS
EXPANSION
FLUID MECHANICS
FLUIDS
GAS LASERS
GASES
HYDRODYNAMICS
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
LASERS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MECHANICS
NEBULAE
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLASMA SIMULATION
SHOCK WAVES
SIMULATION
SPACE
STARS
SUPERNOVA REMNANTS
SUPERNOVAE
VARIABLE STARS