Assigned ID: 569 ----- Submission 1 (Fri Jan 21 23:56:52 GMT 2005) ----- Phase I Proposal 569 (grb) successfully submitted. ----- Submission 3 (Sat Jan 22 00:45:47 GMT 2005) ----- Phase I Proposal 569 (grb) successfully submitted. ----- Submission 4 (Sat Jan 22 00:56:52 GMT 2005) ----- Hubble Space Telescope (HST) observations of Supernovae (SNe) and Supernova Remnants have revolutionized our knowledge of these objects. The spectacular HST images of SN 1987A have allowed us a real-time look into the impact of the SN shock wave with the surrounding bipolar nebula, and the development of 'hotspots' along the equatorial ring. HST and other multi-wavelength data have fostered the development of models for the structure of the medium surrounding SN 1987A. HST images of the SN remnant Cas A have revealed an intricate array of knots and filaments, and confirmed that the ejecta in SNe can be very clumpy in nature. These observations can only be understood via detailed, and equally high-resolution, numerical modeling that takes the evolution of the pre-SN star into account. I propose a two-year study to investigate the interaction of SN shock waves with the ambient medium formed by the pre-SN star. This study will differ from others in computing the structure of the circumstellar medium around the star throughout its evolutionary history. The mass-loss properties at each timestep in the evolution will be computed from the stellar properties, which are obtained from the latest stellar evolution models. My multi-dimensional simulations will provide an important step towards understanding the complex interaction of the shock-wave with the equatorial ring seen in SN 1987A. I will study the formation of various instabilities, and their effect on the growth and evolution of small-scale structures as seen in Cas A. Although my work is motivated primarily by these two objects, the results will be broadly applicable to a wide variety of phenomena in which shock wave interaction with the ambient medium is predominant.

ISM AND CIRCUMSTELLAR MATTER 12 139000.00 Budget to be split over 2 years false 0.0 false false false true false SUPPORTED