Location of the Optical Reverse Shock in the Cassiopeia A Supernova Remnant

Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

20

Ism: Individual: Name: Cassiopeia A, Ism: Kinematics And Dynamics, Ism: Supernova Remnants

Scientific paper

We use two epochs of Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 images separated by 2 yr to determine the location and propagation of the reverse shock (RS) in the young supernova remnant Cassiopeia A (Cas A). The images trace optical line emission from fast-moving knots and filaments of highly processed ejecta as they cross the RS, become heated and compressed, and radiatively cool. At numerous positions around the optical shell, new emission features are seen in the 2002 images that were not yet visible in the 2000 exposures. In a few instances emission features seen in the first epoch have completely disappeared in the second epoch. We concentrate on two regions along the rim of the main emission shell in Cas A for close inspection: one in the northwestern part of the shell and another along the southwestern part of it. In these regions the RS is viewed almost edge-on, and its precise position has been measured. The RS is coherent in these regions over arcminute (~1 pc) scales but is highly distorted perpendicular to the direction of expansion. We find the RS to be generally expanding at 50%-60% of the ~5500 km s-1 bulk velocity of the optical ejecta. We present shock models for the ejecta that are consistent with the high densities and short cooling times observed in the optical knots of the Cas A remnant.
Based on observations with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope obtained at the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under NASA contract NAS5-26555.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Location of the Optical Reverse Shock in the Cassiopeia A 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 Location of the Optical Reverse Shock in the Cassiopeia A Supernova Remnant, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Location of the Optical Reverse Shock in the Cassiopeia A Supernova Remnant will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-897741

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.