Despite sustained advances in both theory and observations over the last few decades, the identity of the stellar progenitors of Type Ia Supernovae remains unclear. Nearby X-ray bright Supernova Remnants in the Milky Way and the Magellanic Clouds offer an excellent opportunity to examine aspects of the SN Ia phenomenon that are not accessible to optical observations of extragalactic SNe. I will summarize the results of an ongoing project to model the imprint of mass loss from the SN Ia progenitor on the bulk properties and X-ray spectra of Supernova Remnants. A systematic comparison between these models and the best observed Type Ia SNRs yields interesting conclusions. While many (perhaps most) SN Ia progenitors do not substantially modify their surroundings on ~pc scales, some SNRs are clearly expanding into a modified circumstellar medium, either high density material likely associated with slow progenitor outflows, or large, low-density cavities that must have been excavated by high velocity progenitor outflows.

Speaker: Carles Badenes (University of Pittsburgh)

The 2026 Spring Colloquium talks are held on Wednesdays at 3:00 PM. This colloquium is hosted by STScI and will be held as an in-person and virtual event.

You may join in person at STScI’s John N. Bahcall Auditorium or virtually on the STScI Research YouTube channel.

Please direct questions or comments to contact above. The 2026 Spring Colloquium members are: Nimisha Kumari (STScI), Elena Manjavacas (STScI), Jack Neustadt (JHU), Kevin Schlaufman (JHU), Adam Smercina (STScI), Ethan Vishniac (JHU).