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K. W. Weiler (Naval Research Laboratory)
The youngest known Galactic supernova remnant (SNR) with well established age is Cas A, which is possibly the remnant of Flamsteed's star in 1670. The oldest known radio emitting, modern supernova is SN1923A, so that we have a gap of more than 250 years in our observational knowledge of the evolution of supernovae into supernova remnants. Even that is too optimistic. We do not really have good information on the evolution of supernovae prior to the detection and monitoring of the radio emission from SN1979C, only a bit more than 20 years ago. During that 20 years, however, we have been able to collect extensive information on the radio emission from supernovae and can now identify classes of radio emitters, establish their association with optical SN classes, and develop an understanding of the general morphological and physical properties of the evolution of radio supernovae (RSNe). Very recently, we have been able to use that knowledge to also improve our understanding of the enigmatic gamma-ray bursters (GRBs).
These youngest RSNe and their evolution will be discussed in detail with connection to the very recent GRBs and to the older so-called "intermediate age" RSNe with ages between 20 and 70 years. Finally their possible links to the youngest Galactic SNRs with ages greater than 300 years will be discussed.
I wish to thank the Office of Naval Research for the 6.1 funding which supports this work.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 34
© 2002. The American Astronomical Soceity.