Hydrodynamic simulations of the interaction of supernova shock waves with a clumpy environment: the case of the RX J0852.0-4622 (Vela Jr) supernova remnant

TL;DR

This study uses multidimensional hydrodynamic simulations to analyze how supernova shock waves interact with a clumpy environment, specifically modeling the Vela Jr supernova remnant to understand its shape and emission features.

Contribution

The paper introduces detailed hydrodynamic simulations of supernova remnants interacting with a clumpy medium, providing insights into explosion energies and remnant morphology.

Findings

A very energetic explosion (~3×10^{51} erg) about 800 years ago fits Vela Jr's observed features.

A less energetic explosion (~1×10^{51} erg) around a few thousand years ago is also consistent.

Simulations help constrain the supernova's explosion energy and age based on remnant morphology.

Abstract

Observations in all electromagnetic bands show that many supernova remnants (SNRs) have a very aspherical shape. This can be the result of asymmetries in the supernova explosion or a clumpy circumstellar medium. We study the generation of inhomogeneities and the mixing of elements arising from these two sources in multidimensional hydrodynamic simulations of the propagation of a supernova blast wave into a cloudy environment. We model a specific SNR, Vela Jr (RX J0852.0-4622). By comparing our results with recent observations, we can constrain the properties of the explosion. We find that a very energetic explosion of several 10^{51} erg occurring roughly about 800 years ago is consistent with the shape and emission of the SNR, as well as a supernova with an energy closer to the canonical value of 10^{51} erg a few thousand years ago.