Exosat observations of the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Astrophys. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/166612· OSTI ID:6675031

Jansen, F; De Korte, P A.M.; Smith, A; Peacock, A; Bleeker, J A.M.

The young supernova remnant Cas A has been observed with the European X-ray observatory satellite Exosat. The remnant was observed with all instruments covering the range from 0.5 to 25 KeV. It is shown here that the emission from the remnant cannot be described by a two-temperature isothermal plasma in collisional ionization equilibrium. A simple Sedov (1959) blast-wave model assuming equilibration between the electron and ion temperature but nonionization equilibrium also does not result in an acceptable fit due to strongly enhanced emission at low energies (not above 2.5 KeV). Observations made with the Exostat imaging proportional counter show that this extra emission comes from the interior regions of the remnant. The source of this low-energy flux is most probably supernova ejecta heated in a reverse shock. No evidence is found for a high temperature (not less than 20 KeV) component. 35 references.

• Research Organization: Leiden Rijksuniversiteit (Netherlands); ESA, Space Science Dept., Noordwijk (Netherlands); SRON, Laboratorium voor Ruimteonderzoek, Utrecht (Netherlands)
• OSTI ID: 6675031
• Journal Information: Astrophys. J.; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophys. J.; (United States) Vol. 331; ISSN ASJOA
• 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
ABUNDANCE
BREMSSTRAHLUNG
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
COSMIC RAY SOURCES
COSMIC X-RAY SOURCES
CRAB NEBULA
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
HEATING
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NEBULAE
RADIATIONS
SATELLITES
SHOCK WAVES
SUPERNOVA REMNANTS
X RADIATION