A law of motion for spherical shells in special relativity

TL;DR

This paper derives self-similar solutions for the relativistic motion of thin spherical shells, extending classical momentum conservation laws into special relativity, and applies these solutions to model Supernova Remnant 1987 A.

Contribution

It introduces a relativistic generalization of momentum conservation for thin shells and provides analytical and numerical solutions applicable to astrophysical phenomena.

Findings

Derived self-similar solutions for relativistic shells

Extended classical momentum conservation to special relativity

Applied solutions to model Supernova Remnant 1987 A

Abstract

Self-similar solutions to the problem of a special relativistic law of motion for thin shells of matter are calculated. These solutions represent the special relativistic generalization of momentum conservation for the thin layer approximation in classical physics. The analytical and numerical results are applied to Supernova Remnant 1987 A.