Using SN 1987A light echoes to determine mass loss from the progenitor

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/185912· OSTI ID:6261289

Crotts, A P.S.; Kunkel, W E ^[1]

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1. NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD (USA) Carnegie Institution, Observatories, Pasadena, CA (USA)

The hypothesis that the blue progenitor of SN 1987A passed through a blue supergiant phase ending with the expulsion of the outer envelope is tested. The many light echoes seen near SN 1987A were used to search for a mass flow from the progenitor and for abrupt density changes at the limits of this smooth mass flow. The progenitor needed roughly a million yr to create these structures, assuming a constant mass loss at 15 km/s. The dust in the region is small-grained and isotropically scattering. Interaction between the progenitor blue supergiant and red supergiant winds is probably contained within a roughly spherical structure 1.5 pc in diameter. 29 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6261289
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (USA) Vol. 366; ISSN ASJOA; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COSMIC DUST
DENSITY
DUSTS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EMISSION SPECTRA
ERUPTIVE VARIABLE STARS
GIANT STARS
MASS TRANSFER
MORPHOLOGY
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIATIONS
RED GIANT STARS
SPECTRA
STAR EVOLUTION
STARS
STELLAR ACTIVITY
STELLAR WINDS
SUPERGIANT STARS
SUPERNOVAE
VARIABLE STARS
VISIBLE RADIATION