Interaction of the Vela supernova remnant with the cloudy interstellar medium

Journal Article · Fri Oct 15 04:00:00 EDT 1976 · Astrophys. J., Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/182274· OSTI ID:7332102

Jenkins, E B; Silk, J; Wallerstein, G

Using the Copernicus ultraviolet spectrometer, we have investigated interstellar absorption lines in the spectra of several stars behind the Vela supernova remnant. From observations of multiple velocity components ranging from +90 km s/sup -1/ to -180 km s/sup -1/ (and possibly even at -450 km s/sup -1/), some of which contain absorption by O VI, N V, and by fine-structure levels of C II and N II, we are able to demonstrate that the supernova must have interacted with a cloudy interstellar medium. The high-velocity gas is identified with shocked and compressed clouds, and is in the form of inhomogeneous filaments or sheets. In the low-velocity gas, analysis of the ionization trace elements, in particular for the ions S III, S IV, Si IV, N V, and O VI, suggests that we are observing clumpy gas in the immediate vicinity of the supernova remnant. We briefly describe a shock model for the observed gas, and emphasize the need for new optical observations of emission lines from the Vela region. (AIP)

• Research Organization: Princeton University Observatory
• OSTI ID: 7332102
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J., Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J., Lett.; (United States) Vol. 209:2; ISSN AJLEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640105* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ABSORPTION
ABSORPTION SPECTRA
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COSMIC GASES
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
COSMOLOGICAL MODELS
FLUIDS
GASES
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
IONIZATION
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
RADIAL VELOCITY
SHOCK WAVES
SPACE
SPECTRA
SUPERNOVA REMNANTS
ULTRAVIOLET SPECTRA
VELOCITY