Joint Astrophysics Colloquium

Supernova Remnants Stay in Shape

Laura Lopez

MIT

Nearly 350 supernova remnants (SNRs) are now known in the Milky Way and nearby galaxies, and these objects are excellent laboratories to study the debris of SNe and their interaction with the interstellar medium. However, the complex and heterogeneous nature of SNRs has hindered characterization of their properties, precluding comparison of observations with theoretical predictions. In this talk, I will highlight results from the first systematic study of the morphological properties of SNRs. In particular, I will demonstrate that Type Ia SNRs have statistically more symmetric and spherical emission than core-collapse (CC) SNRs, and I will explore whether this result arises from the distinct explosion mechanisms or the different environments of Type Ia/CC progenitors.