Probing the Cassiopeia A Supernova Explosion

Journal Article · Thu Aug 02 00:00:00 EDT 2007 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2768839· OSTI ID:21067355

Hwang, Una ^[1]; Laming, J Martin ^[2]

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1. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Code 662, Greenbelt MD 20771 (United States)
2. Naval Research Laboratory, Code 7674L, Washington DC 20375 (United States)

X-ray observations of the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant reveal explosive nucleosynthesis products such as Si and Fe, and thus provide a unique window into the core-collapse explosion that formed the remnant 330 years ago. We review current progress using X-ray spectra extracted on arcsecond angular scales from a 106 s Chandra observation of Cas A, in conjunction with models that follow the remnant's hydrodynamical evolution and treat the relevant plasma microphysics. We address questions related to the explosion such as the degree of explosion asymmetry, the nature of the jets, the nature of the circumstellar environment, and extent of radial mixing of the Fe ejecta.

• OSTI ID: 21067355
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 926, Issue 1; Conference: 15. international conference on atomic processes in plasmas, Gaithersburg, MD (United States), 19-22 Mar 2007; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2768839; (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ASYMMETRY
COSMIC X-RAY BURSTS
IRON ISOTOPES
NUCLEOSYNTHESIS
PLASMA
PLASMA JETS
REVIEWS
SILICON ISOTOPES
SUPERNOVA REMNANTS
SUPERNOVAE
X-RAY SPECTRA