Search for an Optical Counterpart to the Central X-ray Point Source in Cas A

Details Search for an Optical Counterpart to the Central X-ray Point Source in Cas A Search for an Optical Counterpart to the Central X-ray Point Source in Cas A

Jul 2000

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2000hst..prop.8692f&link_type=abstract

HST Proposal ID #8692

Computer Science

Hst Proposal Id #8692 Ism And Circumstellar Matter

Scientific paper

First-light Chandra X-ray Observatory images have uncovered a central point-like source in Cas A, the Galaxy's youngest known supernova remnant {SN 1680}. The object lies within 5'' of the remnant's estimated expansion center and is presumably either the remnant's neutron star or black hole. Preliminary analysis of the source's ACIS spectrum indicates Si {and possibly S} emission, not unlike that seen in the remnant's ejecta, suggesting possibly an accretion disk of fall-back SN debris. If this spectral analysis holds up, there is then a good chance of detecting an optical emission line counterpart. We propose to obtain deep `white light' STIS images of the Cas A center during five LOW background orbits to search for an optical candidate down to 29.5 mag. Complementary WFPC2 images of Cas A which are sensitive to ejecta line emission and already scheduled as part of a Cycle 8 program will be combined to yield spectral information on all but the faintest sources. These data will constrain the point source's nature through limits on its X-ray/optical flux ratio, color properties, and the presence of any extended emission structure. If a sufficiently bright optical source is found coincident with the X-ray position, five additional orbits {TOO} are requested for low-dispersion STIS spectra to search for optical line emission.

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