Multi-wavelength observations of composite supernova remnants

Abstract

Multi-wavelength studies of composite supernova remnants (SNRs) lead to a better understanding of their evolutionary development, the interaction of supernovae (SNe) and pulsar wind nebulae (PWNe) with their surroundings, particle injection and loss processes, nucleosynthesis, and the production and processing of dust grains in SNe. This paper summarizes the basic evolutionary development of composite SNRs and describes two unique systems in different stages of evolution; G54.1+0.3, a PWN in the early stage of evolution that is expanding into inner SN ejecta, and G327.1-1.1, a composite SNR in the late stage of evolution whose PWN has interacted with the SNR reverse shock. Both systems exhibit unique properties that have not been observed previously.