Are there detectable infrared arcs around supernova 1987A

Journal Article · Sat Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1989 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/167594· OSTI ID:5509607

Dwek, E; Felten, J E ^[1]

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1. NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD (USA)

The possibility is examined that the recently discovered arcs of reflected light in the LMC around SN 1987A may be accompanied by detectable arcs of thermal IR emission from dust heated by the UV-visual output of the supernova. Detectability depends on the ratio Zeta = Q(a)/Q(p)P, where Q(a) and Q(s) are the visual absorption and scattering efficiencies of the dust and P is the small-angle scattering phase function. Calculations for spherical grains of graphite and silicate are presented. A Mathis-Rumpl-Nordsieck distribution of grain sizes has an effective Zeta of roughly 0.1. Some grain size distributions more heavily weighted toward small grains in the Galaxy have values of Zeta roughly one to two. With current instrumentation, the flux is below or at best close to the detection limit. 28 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5509607
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (USA) Vol. 342; ISSN ASJOA; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
640105 -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Galaxies
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COSMIC DUST
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DUSTS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ERUPTIVE VARIABLE STARS
GALAXIES
GRAIN SIZE
INFRARED RADIATION
MAGELLANIC CLOUDS
MICROSTRUCTURE
NEBULAE
OPTICAL REFLECTION
RADIATIONS
REFLECTION
SIZE
STARS
SUPERNOVAE
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
VARIABLE STARS