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Title: A Direct Measurement of the Forward Shock Speed in Supernova Remnant 0509–67.5: Constraints on the Age, Ambient Density, Shock Compression Factor, and Electron-Ion Temperature Equilibration

Abstract

Two Hubble Space Telescope narrow-band Hα images separated in time by 1.03 years are used for a proper motion measurement of the forward shock of the LMC supernova remnant 0509–67.5, the only spectroscopically confirmed LMC remnant of Ia origin. We measure a global shock speed of 6500 ± 200 km s–1 and constrain the pre-shock neutral hydrogen density to be 0.084 ± 0.003 cm–3, for a typical mean number of Hα photons produced per neutral hydrogen atom entering the forward shock. Previously published broad Hα line widths from two locations on the rim and our corresponding shock speed measurements are consistent with Balmer shock models that do not include effects of cosmic-ray acceleration. For the northeastern rim location, we limit the post-shock electron temperature to 10% of the proton temperature by also using the broad-to-narrow flux ratio. Hydrodynamic simulations for different initial ejecta density profiles constrain the age and ambient medium density; for an exponential ejecta profile and initial explosion energy of 1.4 × 1051 erg, the remnant's age is $${310}_{-30}^{+40}$$ years. For all evolutionary models explored, the expansion parameter falls in the range of 0.41–0.73, indicating that the remnant is still firmly in the ejecta-dominated phase of its evolution.more » Furthermore, our measured neutral hydrogen density of the ambient medium, combined with the shocked density obtained in Williams et al., disfavors forward shock compression factors greater than ~7.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [2]
  1. Rutgers Univ., Piscataway, NJ (United States)
  2. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1471330
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-14-29199
Journal ID: ISSN 1538-4357
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC52-06NA25396
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
The Astrophysical Journal (Online)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 809; Journal Issue: 2; Journal ID: ISSN 1538-4357
Publisher:
Institute of Physics (IOP)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS; cosmic rays; ISM: individual objects (SNR 0509–67.5); ISM: kinematics and dynamics; ISM: supernova remnants; proper motions; shock waves

Citation Formats

Hovey, Luke, Hughes, John P., and Eriksen, Kristoffer. A Direct Measurement of the Forward Shock Speed in Supernova Remnant 0509–67.5: Constraints on the Age, Ambient Density, Shock Compression Factor, and Electron-Ion Temperature Equilibration. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/809/2/119.
Hovey, Luke, Hughes, John P., & Eriksen, Kristoffer. A Direct Measurement of the Forward Shock Speed in Supernova Remnant 0509–67.5: Constraints on the Age, Ambient Density, Shock Compression Factor, and Electron-Ion Temperature Equilibration. United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/809/2/119
Hovey, Luke, Hughes, John P., and Eriksen, Kristoffer. 2015. "A Direct Measurement of the Forward Shock Speed in Supernova Remnant 0509–67.5: Constraints on the Age, Ambient Density, Shock Compression Factor, and Electron-Ion Temperature Equilibration". United States. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/809/2/119. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1471330.
@article{osti_1471330,
title = {A Direct Measurement of the Forward Shock Speed in Supernova Remnant 0509–67.5: Constraints on the Age, Ambient Density, Shock Compression Factor, and Electron-Ion Temperature Equilibration},
author = {Hovey, Luke and Hughes, John P. and Eriksen, Kristoffer},
abstractNote = {Two Hubble Space Telescope narrow-band Hα images separated in time by 1.03 years are used for a proper motion measurement of the forward shock of the LMC supernova remnant 0509–67.5, the only spectroscopically confirmed LMC remnant of Ia origin. We measure a global shock speed of 6500 ± 200 km s–1 and constrain the pre-shock neutral hydrogen density to be 0.084 ± 0.003 cm–3, for a typical mean number of Hα photons produced per neutral hydrogen atom entering the forward shock. Previously published broad Hα line widths from two locations on the rim and our corresponding shock speed measurements are consistent with Balmer shock models that do not include effects of cosmic-ray acceleration. For the northeastern rim location, we limit the post-shock electron temperature to 10% of the proton temperature by also using the broad-to-narrow flux ratio. Hydrodynamic simulations for different initial ejecta density profiles constrain the age and ambient medium density; for an exponential ejecta profile and initial explosion energy of 1.4 × 1051 erg, the remnant's age is ${310}_{-30}^{+40}$ years. For all evolutionary models explored, the expansion parameter falls in the range of 0.41–0.73, indicating that the remnant is still firmly in the ejecta-dominated phase of its evolution. Furthermore, our measured neutral hydrogen density of the ambient medium, combined with the shocked density obtained in Williams et al., disfavors forward shock compression factors greater than ~7.},
doi = {10.1088/0004-637X/809/2/119},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1471330}, journal = {The Astrophysical Journal (Online)},
issn = {1538-4357},
number = 2,
volume = 809,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Aug 20 00:00:00 EDT 2015},
month = {Thu Aug 20 00:00:00 EDT 2015}
}

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Works referenced in this record:

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Works referencing / citing this record:

An X-ray expansion and proper motion study of the Magellanic Cloud Supernova Remnant J0509–6731 with the Chandra X-ray observatory
journal, May 2018


Optical Tomography of Chemical Elements Synthesized in Type Ia Supernovae
journal, July 2019


Statistical Analysis of Supernova Remnants in the Large Magellanic Cloud
journal, May 2017


The Expansion of the Young Supernova Remnant 0509-68.7 (N103B)
journal, September 2018


Statistical Analysis of Supernova Remnants in the Large Magellanic Cloud
text, January 2017