A Deep Kinematic Investigation of Cas A's Opposing High-Velocity Ejecta Jets

Details A Deep Kinematic Investigation of Cas A's Opposing High-Velocity Ejecta Jets A Deep Kinematic Investigation of Cas A's Opposing High-Velocity Ejecta Jets

Jul 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009hst..prop12300f&link_type=abstract

HST Proposal ID #12300. Cycle 18

Physics

Scientific paper

The young Galactic remnant Cas A provides perhaps our clearest look at the explosion of a high mass, core-collapse supernova. Two seemingly opposing streams or "jets" of high-velocity debris extending outward along its northeastern and southwestern limbs have expansion velocities more than twice that of the remnant's bright main shell. Interpretation of these jets has been controversial mainly based on energy considerations. However, SN debris located at the farthest tip of the NE jet is S-rich suggesting an origin deep inside the progenitor due to an overturning of layers as predicted in some aspherical explosion models. If similar ejecta were also found present in the SW jet's outermost knots, it would be strong evidence in support of an asymmetric explosion of Cas A and in turn for CCSNe in general. Unfortunately, substantial extinction toward both jets has prevented a thorough investigation of their properties and, in particular, whether they constitute a true bipolar outflow.We propose to use the WFC3/IR channel in 5 CVZ orbits to obtain a deep imaging survey of Cas A's jets to probe their true extent and structure. The combination of WFC3's high throughput at the [S II] 10287-10370 and [S III] 9069, 9531 emission lines, a pixel scale well matched to typical jet knot sizes, and decreased extinction at 1 micron will dramatically improve jet knot detections over prior ACS/WFC images. Follow-up observations in Cycle 19 will allow robust knot identification via proper motions, and KPNO 4m near-IR spectroscopy will provide knot radial velocities. Our goal is to develop a thorough 3D kinematic and chemical map of Cas A's jets which will constrain their nature and relationship to the remnant's main spherical shell of ejecta.;

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