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On the Edge of: Supernova Remnants
Some scientists are interested in supernova remnants (SNRs), i.e., the
remains of exploded stars. Supernova remnants are actually hot gases that
have been hurtled into space by the force of a supernova (SN) explosion. Some
of the remnants are thousands of years old and many hundreds of light
years wide. Supernova remnants are important to astronomers because they are
the major source of energy, heavy elements and cosmic rays in our Galaxy. In
order to understand how our Galaxy evolves, how new stars are created, how gas
is recycled and energy is redistributed, it is essential to understand
SN explosions and their remnants. The general areas of SNR research can be
divided up into the four listed below:
SNR Research
- Acceleration of Cosmic Rays:
These particles found throughout space have energies a billion times
greater than those created in our most powerful particle accelerators.
Where do they come from? Scientists have long thought that Supernova
Remnants may be responsible...but how?
- X-ray Spectroscopy of young SNR:
You can't very well study a star that exploded hundreds or
thousands of years ago... Or can you? Scientists use spectroscopy as
clues to what the star was like before it blew up and became a
spectacular supernova remnant.
- Interaction between SNR and the Interstellar Medium (ISM):
Since the forward shock of the remnant heats and compresses the gas it
encounters, making it radiate strongly in the X-ray, studying the
X-ray emission from SNRs as they sweep up interstellar gas is a good
way to learn about the mysteries of the ISM.
- Thermal Conduction: This
process could be responsible for
a new class of SNR that do not look like SNR theories
predict. What is happening in the middle of these remnants to make
them X-ray bright? Examining how thermal conduction works in SNR can
reveal how it works in the ISM in general.
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