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SN 1987 A: A Unique Laboratory for Shock PhysicsSupernova 1987 A has given us an unprecedented view of the evolution of the explosion debris and its interaction with circumstellar matter. The outer supernova debris, now expanding with velocities approx.8000 km/s, encountered the relatively dense circumstellar ring formed by presupernova mass loss in the early 1990s. The shock interaction is manifested by UV-optical "hotspots", an expanding X-ray ring, an expanding ring of knotty non-thermal radio emission, and a ring of thermal IR emission from silicate dust Recent ultraviolet observations of the emissions from the reverse shock and the ring with the HST/COS reveal new details about the shock interaction. Lyman alpha emission from the reverse shock is much stronger than H alpha and they have different emission morphologies, pointing to different emission mechanisms. The reverse shock was detected for the first time in C IV 1550. The N V to C IV brightness ratio indicates the N/C abundance ratio in the expanding debris is about 100X solar, about 3X N/C in the inner ring.
Document ID
20120013542
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Sonneborn, George (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 26, 2013
Publication Date
September 10, 2012
Subject Category
Astronomy
Report/Patent Number
GSFC.ABS.6827.2012
Meeting Information
Meeting: Supernovae Illuminating the Universe: From Individuals to Populations
Location: Munich
Country: Germany
Start Date: September 10, 2012
End Date: September 14, 2012
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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