How long might it take for the ejected material from a supernova blast to become fully homogenized into the general galactic gas reservoir?
Answer
Several million years.
Although the visible supernova remnant (SNR) fades significantly and the blast's kinetic energy drives enriched material outward within tens of thousands of years, the process of complete chemical integration into the galaxy is far longer. The enriched material must travel vast distances and mix thoroughly with pre-existing clouds of gas and dust. This homogenization process, whereby the signature of the single explosion becomes fully diffused throughout the general galactic reservoir, is estimated to take several million years to complete.
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After A Supernova Event, What Is Left Behind? - Physics Frontier
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