Gamma-ray imaging observations of Supernova 1987A

Author: Palmer, David M.

Year: 1992

Degree: Dissertation (Ph.D.)

Advisor: Prince, Thomas A.

Committee Member: Unknown, Unknown

Option: Physics

DOI: 10.7907/ctqh-qa26

Abstract

The Caltech imaging γ-ray telescope has made four balloon flights from Alice Springs, Australia, to observe the hard X-ray and γ-ray emission from Supernova 1987 A as it evolved between 1987 May and 1989 April. We have detected γ-rays with the time behavior and spectral signature expected from freshly-synthesized radioisotopes embedded in a cloud of ejecta. In particular, we detect the 847 and 1238 keY γ-ray lines produced by the decay of ^(56)Co, and the continuum spectrum expected from Compton scattering of these γ-trays. The results of these observations are compared with other measurements and with theoretical models of supernovae, and it is found that our results are consistent with core-collapse models for SN 1987A in which the centrally-produced radioisotopes have propagated outwards to mix with the ejecta.

Files

• Palmer_dm_1992.pdf (application/pdf)