Britannica
Sources used in this answer
What produces the radio waves detected from supernova remnants?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Nebula
The Cat's Eye Nebula.
Radio waves detected from supernova remnants are produced by synchrotron radiation.12
This process occurs when charged particles, such as electrons, move at speeds close to the speed of light while spiraling through the magnetic field present within the gaseous remnant. Because this radiation is not dependent on the temperature of the source, it is often referred to as nonthermal radiation. This emission is characteristic of many supernova remnants, allowing them to be detected by radio telescopes even when they are obscured by interstellar dust.123