What characteristic primarily defines the Sedov-Taylor phase of a supernova remnant's expansion?
Answer
The remnant decelerates as it sweeps up interstellar gas, allowing mixing of ejecta and ISM.
The Sedov-Taylor phase, or adiabatic phase, begins when the remnant starts decelerating because it is accumulating mass from the interstellar medium. This process allows the original stellar ejecta to mix with the shocked interstellar material.

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