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Session 45 - The Structure and Evolution of The Universe - II.
Topical, Oral session, Tuesday, June 09
Presidio,
In order to understand the life cycles of matter in the Galaxy and indeed even the chemical evolution of the Universe itself, studies of supernovae and their remnants are essential. The shock-heated plasmas in these objects emit primarily line-rich X-ray spectra that directly probe the supernova abundances and the blast wave interaction with the ambient interstellar or circumstellar medium. Studies with ROSAT and ASCA of Galactic and Magellanic Cloud supernova remnants have given us a preview of the kinds of scientific studies that will be possible in the coming decade using the powerful new high energy missions in the SEU program. Among such studies are the following three that I will touch upon in this talk: measuring the abundances of nearly all the elements between carbon and zinc in the ejecta of bright Galactic remnants, (2) using samples of remnants in M31 and M33 to study the nature and environments of supernova progenitors, and (3) watching the evolution of SN1987A during its expected rise to brilliance in the next decade or so.
