Dust-Gas Interaction in SNR 1987A

Multiwavelength observations of SNR 1987A show that its morphology is rapidly changing at X-ray, radio, and optical wavelengths as the blast wave from the explosion expands into the circumstellar equatorial ring. Infrared emission arises from the interaction of dust grains with the hot X-ray emitting gas. We show that the IR emission provides important complementary information on the interaction of the SN blast wave with the circumstellar equatorial ring that cannot be obtained at any other wavelength.