What phenomenon is responsible for the bright light observed in the ring structure of a supernova remnant?
Answer
The shockwave intensely illuminating pre-existing, denser material.
The visible light signature is produced because the shockwave compresses and heats the dense, pre-existing gas that the star had previously ejected, causing this material to glow brightly.
Related Questions
What primarily causes supernova remnants like SN 1987A to display bright rings instead of perfect spheres?What type of star was the progenitor of Supernova 1987A?How was the dense, equatorial ring surrounding the progenitor of SN 1987A likely formed?If an observer views a dense, dusty torus surrounding a star, what viewing angle results in the appearance of a thin circle?What phenomenon is responsible for the bright light observed in the ring structure of a supernova remnant?What capability allows instruments like the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to better study supernova remnants?Besides pre-ejected material, what intrinsic factor related to the progenitor star can cause a supernova remnant to be non-spherical?What diagnostic technique allows astronomers to map the geometry of the pre-ejected material over several years for SN 1987A?What fate awaits the bright ring structure as the supernova remnant ages beyond its initial interaction phase?The text contrasts the intuitive expectation of a supernova explosion with the observed reality. What is the intuitive expectation?