An exploding star, or supernova, is one of the most violent events in the universe, giving off a billion stars' worth of light. Even thousands of years later, the remnants of these explosions are among the most beautiful and mysterious objects in the cosmos--enormous balls of high-energy particles and strong magnetic fields, confined by the expanding shock wave from the original explosion. To understand the true nature of supernova remnants, scientists examine them in a wide range of wavelengths, from visible light to radio waves, X-rays and gamma rays. New observations with the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope show how supernova remnants act as giant particle accelerators--much more powerful than the biggest ones on Earth--to produce the high-energy cosmic rays that fill the galaxy.
Supernova Shock Waves: Powerhouses of the Galaxy
Presented by Yasunobu Uchiyama
About Yasunobu Uchiyama
Yasunobu Uchiyama is a scientist at the joint SLAC/Stanford University Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Tokyo in 1998, and received his Ph.D. also from the University of Tokyo in 2003. After working as a postdoc at Yale University and ISAS/JAXA (Japan), he joined SLAC as a Panofsky Fellow in 2008. His research interests include the physics of cosmic-ray acceleration, and X-ray and gamma-ray observations of galactic cosmic-ray sources (especially supernova remnants). He is a member of the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope LAT Collaboration and leads the Supernova Remnant working group. He is also a member of the ASTRO-H Collaboration as deputy leader of the Shock/Acceleration working group.
Supernova Shock Waves: Powerhouses of the Galaxy
Presented by Yasunobu Uchiyama

Public Lecture—Supernova Shock Waves: Powerhouses of the Galaxy

Coming to SLAC
Free admission
Registration may be required.
Identification required
Adults are required to bring a photo ID to enter the SLAC campus.
Limited seating
Please arrive early to join the event on time.
Free parking
SLAC offers free parking in our visitor parking lot.
Accessibility
SLAC facilities meet American Disability Act requirements for accessibility. If you need assistance, please notify our security officers as you enter SLAC’s main gate, and they will direct you to a parking area and assist or escort you to the auditorium.
Getting here
SLAC is located at 2575 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, California, 94025. Please visit our Maps and directions page for driving directions.
If you have specific questions or concerns about attending a public lecture at SLAC, please contact us.