Grant: Canada Research Chairs

Supernova explosions are among the most energetic explosions in the Universe. They energize the interstellar medium, enrich our Galaxy with the elements we are made of, and leave behind some of the most exotic (neutron) stars and the strongest magnets in the Universe. As well, their remnants, known as supernova remnants (SNRs), are believed to accelerate cosmic rays to very high (~1000 TeV) energies. Therefore, SNRs offer the chance for an astrophysical laboratory to study the physics of the extreme, and the origin of heavy elements and high-energy cosmic rays. This research is aimed at studying SNRs by conducting multi-wavelength observations (with focus on X-ray energies), in addition to performing modelling and state-of-the-art numerical simulations, to answer critical questions related to the growing ""zoo"" of neutron stars and their nebulae, the progenitors of highly magnetized neutron stars, and particle acceleration at supernova shocks. We are also developing a state-of-the-art X-ray spectral fitting package to model astrophysical sources and to be made available to the X-ray community worldwide.