Instabilities and Clumping in Type Ia Supernova Remnants

TL;DR

This study uses high-resolution hydrodynamical simulations to explore the development of instabilities and clumping in Type Ia supernova remnants, revealing how ejecta interactions shape observable features.

Contribution

It introduces detailed 2D simulations of supernova ejecta interacting with the interstellar medium, highlighting the role of instabilities and clumping in remnant morphology.

Findings

Rayleigh-Taylor instability dominates initially

Clumping influences remnant structure and X-ray features

Clump survival requires high density contrast

Abstract

We present two-dimensional high-resolution hydrodynamical simulations in spherical polar coordinates of a Type Ia supernova interacting with a constant density interstellar medium. The ejecta are assumed to be freely expanding with an exponential density profile. The interaction gives rise to a double-shocked structure susceptible to hydrodynamic instabilities. The Rayleigh-Taylor instability initially grows, but the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability takes over, producing vortex rings. The nonlinear instability initially evolves toward longer wavelengths and eventually fades away when the reverse shock front is in the flatter part of the supernova density distribution. Based on observations of X-ray knots and the protrusion in the southeast outlin of Tycho's supernova remnant, we include clumping in the ejecta. The clump interaction with the reverse shock induces Rayleigh-Taylor and Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities on the clump surface that facilitate fragmentation. In order to survive crushing and to have a bulging effect on the forward shock, the clump's initial density ratio to the surrounding ejecta must be at least 100 for the conditions in Tycho's remnant. The 56Ni bubble effect may be important for the development of clumpiness in the ejecta. The observed presence of an Fe clump would then require a non-radioactive origin for this Fe, possibly 54Fe. The large radial distance of the X-ray emitting Si and S ejecta from the remnant center indicates that they were initially in clumps.