| Supernova remnants (SNRs) are interesting from both a stellar evolutionary point of view, as from the point of view of plasma physical processes. Most X-ray studies of supernova remnants are based on imaging spectroscopy using CCDs, which have moderate spectral resolution. Here we propose to explore a large data set of high spectral resolution XMM-Newton Reflection Grating Spectrometer (RGS) observations (including two long program observations by the proposers)of seven SNRs varying in properties: ranging from young (< 2000 yr) to old SNRs (up to 10,000 yr), SNRs from Type Ia and Type II events, with locations in the Galaxy and the Large Magellanic Cloud. The SNRs of small angular extent give high resolution spectra of the remnants as a whole, whereas the larger extent Galactic remnants will offer high resolution spectra of narrow parts of the shell. Where necessary the RGS data will be supplemented with XMM-Newton CCD data, in order to obtain information on the spatial distribution of plasma properties, and on spectral properties above 2 keV. The high resolution RGS spectra will be used to obtain detailed information on plasma temperatures, ionization states, abundances, and kinematics (through Doppler shifts/broadening). This will enable us to get new insights into the origin of the explosions, the history of the interaction of SNR shocks with circumstellar gas, and it will give constraints on non-thermal emission components, in cases where the spectrum is a mix of both thermal and non-thermal components. |
