The three-dimensional structure of Cassiopeia A

DeLaney, Tracey, Rudnick, Lawrence, Stage, M. D., Smith, J. D., Isensee, Karl, Rho, Jeonghee, Allen, Glenn E., Gomez, Haley Louise ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3398-0052, Kozasa, Takashi, Reach, William T., Davis, J. E. and Houck, J. C. 2010. The three-dimensional structure of Cassiopeia A. Astrophysical Journal 725 (2) , pp. 2038-2058. 10.1088/0004-637X/725/2/2038

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

We used the Spitzer Space Telescope's Infrared Spectrograph to map nearly the entire extent of Cassiopeia A between 5 and 40 μm. Using infrared and Chandra X-ray Doppler velocity measurements, along with the locations of optical ejecta beyond the forward shock, we constructed a three-dimensional model of the remnant. The structure of Cas A can be characterized into a spherical component, a tilted thick disk, and multiple ejecta jets/pistons and optical fast-moving knots all populating the thick disk plane. The Bright Ring in Cas A identifies the intersection between the thick plane/pistons and a roughly spherical reverse shock. The ejecta pistons indicate a radial velocity gradient in the explosion. Some ejecta pistons are bipolar with oppositely directed flows about the expansion center while some ejecta pistons show no such symmetry. Some ejecta pistons appear to maintain the integrity of the nuclear burning layers while others appear to have punched through the outer layers. The ejecta pistons indicate a radial velocity gradient in the explosion. In three dimensions, the Fe jet in the southeast occupies a "hole" in the Si-group emission and does not represent "overturning," as previously thought. Although interaction with the circumstellar medium affects the detailed appearance of the remnant and may affect the visibility of the southeast Fe jet, the bulk of the symmetries and asymmetries in Cas A are intrinsic to the explosion.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Physics and Astronomy
Subjects:	Q Science > QB Astronomy
Uncontrolled Keywords:	infrared: ISM; ISM: individual objects (Cassiopeia A); ISM: supernova remnants; X-rays: ISM
Publisher:	IOP Publishing
ISSN:	0004-637X
Last Modified:	19 Oct 2022 09:50
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/22328

Citation Data

Cited 106 times in Scopus. View in Scopus. Powered By Scopus® Data

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item