Hubble Space Telescope Imaging of the Primary Shock Front in the Cygnus Loop Supernova Remnant

Details Hubble Space Telescope Imaging of the Primary Shock Front in the Cygnus Loop Supernova Remnant Hubble Space Telescope Imaging of the Primary Shock Front in the Cygnus Loop Supernova Remnant

May 2005

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2005aj....129.2268b&link_type=abstract

The Astronomical Journal, Volume 129, Issue 5, pp. 2268-2280.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

43

Ism: Individual: Name: Cygnus Loop, Shock Waves, Ism: Supernova Remnants

Scientific paper

We present Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 narrowband Hα (F656N) and [O III] λ5007 (F502N) imaging of two fields on the northeastern limb of the Cygnus Loop supernova remnant. This region provides an outstanding example of the initial encounter between the primary blast wave and the surrounding interstellar medium. The Hα images show the primary nonradiative shock front, which, when viewed edge-on, is unresolved at WFPC2 resolution. The [O III] images show portions of filaments that are beginning to become radiative, and in these images the filaments are resolved, appearing fuzzy at WFPC2 resolution. The [O III] filament regions are not bounded directly by Hα filaments, indicating that the shock emission from the nascent radiative region is sufficient to fully ionize the local preshock gas. One field, imaged 4 yr earlier in Hα with WFPC2, is used to study the proper motion of the filament and constrain any brightness variations over this time period. In conjunction with improved models of nonradiative shocks, these data are used to place limits on the possible deceleration of the filament and refine the distance to the Cygnus Loop, arriving at a revised value of d=540+100-80 pc (assuming no deceleration). The second field imaged contains examples of coherent Hα filaments with much more dramatic curvatures than identified previously. We discuss the possible reasons for the different morphology of these filaments and conclude that they can be accommodated with relatively modest variations in local density and shock velocity.
Based on observations with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), Inc., under NASA contract NAS5-26555.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Hubble Space Telescope Imaging of the Primary Shock Front in the Cygnus Loop Supernova Remnant does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Hubble Space Telescope Imaging of the Primary Shock Front in the Cygnus Loop Supernova Remnant, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Hubble Space Telescope Imaging of the Primary Shock Front in the Cygnus Loop Supernova Remnant will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1700852