Discovery of Outlying, High-Velocity Oxygen-Rich Ejecta in Cassiopeia A

Details Discovery of Outlying, High-Velocity Oxygen-Rich Ejecta in Cassiopeia A Discovery of Outlying, High-Velocity Oxygen-Rich Ejecta in Cassiopeia A

2005-09-03

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0509067v1

Astrophys.J.636:859-872,2006

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

17 pages including 3 tables and 7 figures. To appear in ApJ

Scientific paper

10.1086/498092

Hubble Space Telescope images of the young Galactic supernova remnant Cassiopeia A reveal a far larger population of outlying, high-velocity knots of ejecta with a broader range of chemical properties than previously suspected. We identify three main classes of outer ejecta: 1) Knots dominated by [N II] 6548,6583 emission; 2) Knots dominated by oxygen emission lines especially [O II] 7319,7330; and 3) Knots with emission line strengths similar to the [S II] strong FMK ejecta commonly seen in the main emission shell. The discovery of a significant population of O-rich ejecta situated in between the suspected N-rich outer photospheric layer and S-rich FMK-like ejecta suggests that the Cas A progenitor's chemical layers were not completely disrupted by the supernova explosion outside of the remnant's NE and SW high velocity `jet' regions. In addition, we find the majority of O-rich outer ejecta at projected locations out beyond (v = 6500 - 9000 km/s) the remnant's fastest moving Fe-rich X-ray emission material (6000 km/s) seen in Chandra and XMM data along the eastern limb. This suggests that penetration of Fe-rich material up through the S and Si-rich mantle did not extend past the progenitor's N or O-rich outer layers for at least this section of the remnant.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Discovery of Outlying, High-Velocity Oxygen-Rich Ejecta in Cassiopeia A 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 Discovery of Outlying, High-Velocity Oxygen-Rich Ejecta in Cassiopeia A, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Discovery of Outlying, High-Velocity Oxygen-Rich Ejecta in Cassiopeia A will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-56479