A simple model for electron plasma heating in supernova remnants

TL;DR

This paper presents a simple numerical model for electron plasma heating in supernova remnants, focusing on Coulomb scattering, to better understand thermal electron temperatures and X-ray emissions.

Contribution

It introduces a straightforward model coupling supernova remnant evolution with Coulomb heating to estimate electron temperatures and X-ray emissions.

Findings

Electron temperatures are calculated as functions of model parameters.

Results provide lower limits for electron temperatures due to Coulomb-only heating.

Model helps constrain parameters for observed supernova remnants.

Abstract

Context: Multiwavelength observations of supernova remnants can be explained within the framework of diffusive shock acceleration theory, which allows effective conversion of the explosion energy into cosmic rays. Although the models of nonlinear shocks describe reasonably well the nonthermal component of emission, certain issues, including the heating of the thermal electron plasma and the related X-ray emission, still remain open. Methods: Numerical solution of the equations of the Chevalier model for supernova remnant evolution, coupled with Coulomb scattering heating of the electrons. Results: The electron temperature and the X-ray thermal Bremsstrahlung emission from supernova remnants have been calculated as functions of the relevant parameters. Since only the Coulomb mechanism was considered for electron heating, the values obtained for the electron temperatures should be treated as lower limits. Results from this work can be useful to constrain model parameters for observed SNRs.