Cosmic rays in supernova remnants

3D ModelNoAI

Supernova remants, the outcomes of supernova explosions, are beautiful extended sources visible in the sky. The ejected stellar material travels at supersonic velocities through the interstellar medium and produces shocks which heat the gas up to temperatures of hundreds millions kelvin. Particles are highly accelerated at these shocks, producing cosmic rays. The model shows a supernova remnant at the age of 1000 years. The distribution of stellar debris is shown in green; the blast wave in orange. Red arrows describe the topology of the magnetic field. Cosmic rays are accelerated more efficiently in the brightest regions where the unshocked magnetic field is aligned with the shock normal.

MHD simulation performed with the FLASH code.

Reference: Orlando et al. 2012, ApJ 749, id. 156.

Credits: INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico di Palermo. The Milky Way image is from ESO/S. Brunier.