Charles

Supernova remnants are one of the primary engines through which stars add energy to the interstellar medium. The efficiency of this transfer of energy is enhanced where supernova remnants encounter dense interstellar gas, such as in molecular clouds. Unique signatures have been observed toward these supernova remnant/molecular cloud interactions in the form of unusual molecular line profiles and bright non-thermal radiation. The sites of these interactions also provide some of the best examples for evidence of cosmic-ray acceleration and Galactic sources of very high-energy gamma-rays. Despite the large number of individual studies that examine supernova remnant/molecular cloud interactions, very little is known about their overall rates and characteristics. This lack of information limits the usefulness of individual supernova remnant/molecular cloud interactions to enhance our understanding of supernova feedback and cosmic-ray acceleration. I will discuss recent work studying large populations of supernova remnants in the $^{12}$CO~$J=2-1$ and $J=3-2$ lines and the observational signatures associated with molecular shocks from supernova ejecta. Broadened molecular lines and molecular line ratios indicative of warm gas can be used to identify and characterize populations of supernova remnant/molecular cloud interactions. From this large sample, I will discuss new constraints on the energetic processes to which supernova remnants contribute, especially the rate of GeV and TeV gamma-ray production associated with supernova remnant/molecular cloud interfaces.