Anisotropic Thermal Conduction in Supernova Remnants: Relevance to Hot-Gas Filling Factors in the Magnetized Interstellar Medium

Abstract

We explore the importance of anisotropic thermal conduction in the evolution of supernova remnants by means of numerical simulations. The mean temperature of the bubble of hot gas is decreased by a factor of ∼3 compared with simulations without thermal conduction, together with an increase in the mean density of hot gas by a similar factor. Thus, thermal conduction greatly reduces the volume of hot gas produced over the life of the remnant. This underscores the importance of thermal conduction in estimating the hot-gas filling fraction and emissivities in high-stage ions in Galactic and protogalactic interstellar media. © 2006. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.