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arxiv 2302.03576 v2 pith:6RVVRRZL submitted 2023-02-07 astro-ph.HE astro-ph.SR

JWST NIRSpec observations of Supernova 1987A -- from the inner ejecta to the reverse shock

classification astro-ph.HE astro-ph.SR
keywords ejectalinesfindinnerlineobservationsemissionjwst
verification ladder T0 review T1 audit T2 compute T3 formal T4 reserved
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We present initial results from JWST NIRSpec integral field unit observations of the nearby Supernova (SN) 1987A. The observations provide the first spatially-resolved spectroscopy of the ejecta and equatorial ring (ER) over the 1-5 \mu m range. We construct 3D emissivity maps of the [Fe I] 1.443 \mu m line from the inner ejecta and the He I 1.083 \mu m line from the reverse shock (RS), where the former probes the explosion geometry and the latter traces the structure of the circumstellar medium. We also present a model for the integrated spectrum of the ejecta. The [Fe I] 3D map reveals a highly-asymmetric morphology resembling a broken dipole, dominated by two large clumps with velocities of ~2300 km/s. We also find evidence that the Fe-rich inner ejecta have started to interact with the RS. The RS surface traced by the He I line extends from just inside the ER to higher latitudes on both sides of the ER with a half-opening angle ~45 degrees, forming a bubble-like structure. The spectral model for the ejecta allows us to identify the many emission lines, including numerous H_2 lines. We find that the H_2 is most likely excited by far-UV emission, while the metal lines ratios are consistent with a combination of collisional excitation and recombination in the low-temperature ejecta. We also find several high-ionization coronal lines from the ER, requiring a temperature > 2 \times 10^6 K.

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Cited by 1 Pith paper

Reviewed papers in the Pith corpus that reference this work. Sorted by Pith novelty score.

  1. Chandra X-Ray Imaging and Spatially Resolved Spectroscopy of SN 1987A: Energy-Dependent Morphology of the Equatorial Ring

    astro-ph.HE 2026-07 accept novelty 6.0

    Soft X-ray emission from SN 1987A's equatorial ring becomes broader and extends inward after ~2012, while hard X-rays remain compact, indicating growing contribution from reverse-shock-heated interior material.