Researchers discover new supernova remnants in the LMC!

Researchers discover new supernova remnants in the LMC!

Researchers at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) have made remarkable progress in researching the supernova remnants in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). This satellite galaxy, located about 160,000 light-years from Earth, plays a key role in astrophysical research. While the outer edges of the LMC had previously been little explored, astrophysicist Manami Sasaki and graduate student Federico Zangrandi discovered two unknown supernova remnants, indicating explosive stellar activity in this region. This illustrates that significant astrophysical events are taking place even in the outskirts of the LMC.

Supernovae are the spectacular final stages of stars formed by massive explosions that eject large amounts of matter into interstellar space. Based on analyzes of the remains, the researchers suspect that the two stars exploded around 20,000 years ago. This discovery could have been influenced by interactions between the LMC, the Small Magellanic Cloud and the Milky Way, which could have caused the stars to be pulled out of their original orbits.

Importance of chemical composition

A central element of the research is the chemical composition of the emitted matter. The abundance of heavy elements, such as iron and oxygen, has been studied in detail. These elements are crucial to the chemical evolution of the universe and contribute to the formation of new celestial bodies. The researchers hope that their results will provide a clearer picture of the history of the LMC and its interactions with the Milky Way. In addition, differences in the supernova remnants of the LMC compared to the Milky Way could be revealed.

The supernova remnant DEM L316A is also important for understanding this galactic neighbor. These remnants are the result of a Type Ia supernova caused by a white dwarf that absorbed more material from a companion star than it could absorb. This explosion produced highly luminous gases and ionized the surrounding area, which was documented by the Hubble Space Telescope. Hubble, operated by NASA and ESA, used the Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) in 2016 to capture the impressive image of these supernova remnants.

Scientific relevance and future research

The discovery of these supernova remnants is no coincidence. The Large Magellanic Cloud is the fourth largest member of the Local Group of galaxies and has experienced one of the most significant supernova explosions near Earth, supernova SN 1987A, discovered on February 24, 1987. At a distance of about 157,000 light-years, it was the first supernova in which the parent star was identified, raising important questions about stellar evolution and explosions.

The continuous investigations of SN 1987A, including through the latest technologies such as the James Webb Space Telescope, opened new perspectives for astronomical research. In particular, the neutrino measurements carried out months earlier confirmed theoretical models of energy emission and represent a valuable addition to the knowledge about supernova explosions.

FAU's discoveries not only expand our knowledge of the LMC, but also shed more light on fundamental questions about the evolution of the universe and the role of the Milky Way. This could set the stage for future research and deepen our understanding of the Combined Universe.