Nonthermal radiation from supernova remnants in the adiabatic stage of evolution.
Abstract
We develop a physically self-consistent model for nonthermal radiation from supernova remnants in the adiabatic blast-wave (Sedov) phase of evolution, assuming relativistic electrons are accelerated in the shock to an energy density proportional to the postshock pressure, and that the magnetic field is either compressed ambient field or turbulently amplified. We have compared the resulting synchrotron profiles with observations of Tycho's remnant and find the amplified magnetic field model gives an adequate fit if there is a small radially ordered component of the magnetic field at the shock wave. The model predicts that surface brightness of Tycho declines as (diameter)-4.4 and that the flux declines by 0.25% per year. We explain the featureless power-law X-ray spectrum of the SN 1006 remnant as the extension of the radio emission: The entire spectrum can be fitted when synchrotron losses are included. The model implies that while several percent of the shock energy goes into the magnetic field, only 2 × 10-5 of the shock energy goes into relativistic electrons.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- May 1981
- DOI:
- 10.1086/158868
- Bibcode:
- 1981ApJ...245..912R