Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Jun 2005
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2005sptz.prop20381k&link_type=abstract
Spitzer Proposal ID #20381
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Two 24 micron Spitzer images with 1 year time difference have revealed a bipolar moving structure emanating from the main shell of the young supernova remnant Cassiopeia A and extending more than 20 arcmin from its kinematical center. Large motions of order 10 to 20 arcsec have been observed for individual filaments in these mid-infrared images, indepen- dently confirmed by three epochs of ground-based near-infrared observations towards the northern lobe of the structure. Assuming the standard distance to the supernova remnant, 3.4 kpc, the observed tangential velocities are at roughly the speed of light. Motions with this speed have never been observed in any supernova remnant. They are presumably associated with central activity in the SNR such as a relativistic jet. If so, they may have a profound impact on our understanding of the astrophysics in supernovae. For example, they may help identify Cas A as a local site of a gamma ray burst. Although photometric measurements between 2.2 and 24 micron indicate an underlying thermal continuum towards the relativistic filaments, their emission mechanism and true extent is still unknown. We propose a detailed study of these enigmatic objects with Spitzer: I) We wish to extend our map to search for moving features out to the full speed-of-light radius, reached by light leaving the SNR at the time of the explosion 325 years ago. These maps will constrain possibilities for the origin and maintenance of the features. II) IRS spec- troscopy of a bright knot will provide information on the emission mechanism of the features by examining the continuum behavior and searching for any emission lines to a high level of sensitivity. III) We propose to observe the well-studied relativistic jet source SS433 and the Crab-Nebula, the second youngest unambiguous type II supernova remnant in our Galaxy, to test whether relativistic filaments are also detected there.
Birkmann Stephan M.
Hines Dean Carter
Krause Oliver
Latter William B.
Le Floc'h Emeric
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