Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 April 2016
Infrared observations of supernova remnants obtained with the Infrared Astronomical Satellite provide new insights into the dynamics and energetics of the remnants, and into their interaction with the ambient interstellar medium. In most remnants the infrared emission arises from dust that is collisionally heated by the X-ray emitting gas. The infrared observations can therefore be used as a diagnostic for the physical conditions of the shocked gas. In particular, it is shown that all the prominent X-ray remnants in the Galaxy and in the LMC cool mainly by dust grain collisions instead of atomic processes.