THE 3-DIMENSIONAL INTERACTION OF A SUPERNOVA REMNANT WITH AN INTERSTELLAR CLOUD

We present the hydrodynamic evolution in three dimensions of a spherical bubble embedded in a less dense uniform ambient medium as it interacts with a Mach 10 planar shock. This scenario is an idealized model of the interaction of an interstellar cloud with a large supernova remnant. A third-order Godunov numerical algorithm and 5.2 x 10(6) grid points are used to resolve the complex flow field which results. We find that the vortex rings observed in two-dimensional simulations are unstable in three dimensions, and the cloud fragments in all directions. Turbulent mixing of the cloud and interstellar medium is complete and is characterized by the formation of macroscopic vortex filaments. The strongest vortex filaments observed in our simulation may be responsible for the radio emission peaks observed in young supernova remnants.