Article

# Modeling the Hubble Space Telescope Ultraviolet and Optical Spectrum of Spot 1 on the Circumstellar Ring of SN 1987A

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(Impact Factor: 5.99). 12/2008; 572(2):906. DOI: 10.1086/340453
Source: arXiv

ABSTRACT

We report and interpret Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) long-slit observations of the optical and ultraviolet (1150-10270 Å) emission line spectra of the rapidly brightening spot 1 on the equatorial ring of SN 1987A between 1997 September and 1999 October (days 3869-4606 after outburst). The emission is caused by radiative shocks created where the supernova blast wave strikes dense gas protruding inward from the equatorial ring. We measure and tabulate line identifications, fluxes, and, in some cases, line widths and shifts. We compute flux correction factors to account for substantial interstellar line absorption of several emission lines. Nebular analysis shows that optical emission lines come from a region of cool (Te ≈ 104 K) and dense (ne ≈ 106 cm-3) gas in the compressed photoionized layer behind the radiative shock. The observed line widths indicate that only shocks with shock velocities Vs < 250 km s-1 have become radiative, while line ratios indicate that much of the emission must have come from yet slower (Vs 135 km s-1) shocks. Such slow shocks can be present only if the protrusion has atomic density n 3 × 104 cm-3, somewhat higher than that of the circumstellar ring. We are able to fit the UV fluxes with an idealized radiative shock model consisting of two shocks (Vs = 135 and 250 km s-1). The observed UV flux increase with time can be explained by the increase in shock surface areas as the blast wave overtakes more of the protrusion. The observed flux ratios of optical to highly ionized UV lines are greater by a factor of ~2-3 than predictions from the radiative shock models, and we discuss the possible causes. We also present models for the observed Hα line widths and profiles, which suggest that a chaotic flow exists in the photoionized regions of these shocks. We discuss what can be learned with future observations of all the spots present on the equatorial ring.

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##### Article: Optical observations of the young supernova remnant SNR 0540-69.3 and its pulsar
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ABSTRACT: We have used the ESO NTT/EMMI and VLT/FORS1 instruments to examine the LMC supernova remnant 0540-69.3 as well as its pulsar (PSR B0540-69) and pulsar-powered nebula in the optical range. Spectroscopic observations of the remnant covering the range of 3600–7350 Å centered on the pulsar produced results consistent with those of [Kirshner, R.P., Morse, J.A., Winkler, P.F., et al. The penultimate supernova in the Large Magellanic Cloud - SNR 0540-69.3. Astrophys.J. 342, 260–271, 1989.] but also revealed many new emission lines. The most important are [Ne III] λλ3869, 3967 and Balmer lines of hydrogen. In both the central part of the remnant, as well as in nearby H II regions, the [O III] temperature is higher than ∼2 × 104 K, but lower than previously estimated. For PSR B0540-69, previous optical data are mutually inconsistent: HST/FOS spectra indicate a significantly higher absolute flux and steeper spectral index than suggested by early time-resolved groundbased UBVRI photometry. We show that the HST and VLT spectroscopic data for the pulsar have ≳50% nebular contamination, and that this is the reason for the previous difference. Using HST/WFPC2 archival images obtained in various bands from the red part of the optical to the NUV range we have performed an accurate photometric study of the pulsar, and find that the spectral energy distribution of the pulsar emission has a negative slope with . This is steeper than derived from previous UBVRI photometry, and also different from the almost flat spectrum of the Crab pulsar. We also estimate that the proper motion of the pulsar is 4.9 ± 2.3 mas year−1, corresponding to a transverse velocity of 1190 ± 560 km s−1, projected along the southern jet of the pulsar nebula.
Advances in Space Research 01/2005; 35(6-35):1106-1111. DOI:10.1016/j.asr.2005.01.071 · 1.36 Impact Factor
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##### Article: Light emission of very low density hydrogen excited by an extremely hot light source; applications in astrophysics
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ABSTRACT: We discuss high resolution VLT/UVES observations (FWHM ~ 6 km s$^{-1}$) from October 2002 (day ~5700 past explosion) of the shock interaction of SN 1987A and its circumstellar ring. A large number of narrow emission lines from the unshocked ring, with ion stages from neutral up to Ne V and Fe VII, have been identified. A nebular analysis of the narrow lines from the unshocked gas indicates gas densities of (~1.5-5.0)$\times$10$^3$ cm$^{-3}$ and temperatures of ~6.5$\times$10$^3$-2.4$\times$10$^4$ K. This is consistent with the thermal widths of the lines. From the shocked component we observe a large range of ionization stages from neutral lines to [Fe XIV]. From a nebular analysis we find that the density in the low ionization region is 4$\times$10$^6$-10$^7$ cm$^{-3}$. There is a clear difference in the high velocity extension of the low ionization lines and that of lines from [ Fe X-XIV] , with the latter extending up to ~-390 km s$^{-1}$ in the blue wing for [Fe XIV], while the low ionization lines extend to typically ~-260 km s$^{-1}$. For H$\alpha$ a faint extension up to ~-450 km s$^{-1}$ can be seen probably arising from a small fraction of shocked high density clumps. We discuss these observations in the context of radiative shock models, which are qualitatively consistent with the observations. A fraction of the high ionization lines may originate in gas which has yet not had time to cool, explaining the difference in width between the low and high ionization lines. The maximum shock velocities seen in the optical lines are ~510 km s$^{-1}$. We expect the maximum width of especially the low ionization lines to increase with time.