(abstract) Supernova Remnant and Molecular Clouds

Abstract

Upon impact of the shockwaves generated by a supernova remnant, molecular gas and the associated dust grains are substantially excited and become prominent sources of infrared emission. Recent studies of such interactions, utilizing the infrared data and information from other wavelengths, have revealed many details of the physical processes in the interstellar medium. In particluar, the understanding of the temperature and ionization structures in the postshock material is helpful in modeling the star-gas cycles in the Galaxy, and probing the circumstances of star formation.