Observations of gamma-ray line profiles from SN 1987A

Journal Article · Thu Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/185675· OSTI ID:6917769

Tueller, J; Barthelmy, S; Gehrels, N; Teegarden, B J; Leventhal, M ^[1]

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1. NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD (USA) AT T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, NJ (USA)

Fully resolved gamma-ray line observations from the decay of Co-56 in SN 1987A are presented. Data are from the first two balloon flights of the Gamma-Ray Imaging Spectrometer. On day 433 (after the initial optical sighting) the 847 and 1238 keV lines from Co-56 were observed at 2.3 and 4.3 sigma significance. On day 613, the lines at 847, 1238, and 2599 keV were observed at 4.6, 3.4, and 1.9 sigma, respectively. The combined significance for the three-line complex in both flights is 7.8 sigma. Gaussian profiles yield acceptable least-squares fits to the lines. The line profiles are centered on the red side of the rest energy with typical velocity dispersions of about 3500 km/s FWHM, consistent with an optically thin source, but the line intensities are less than about 30 percent of those produced by the 0.075 solar mass of Co-56 determined from the bolometric light curve. 26 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6917769
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (USA) Vol. 351; 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
COBALT ISOTOPES
DECAY
ERUPTIVE VARIABLE STARS
GALAXIES
GAMMA SPECTRA
ISOTOPES
LEAST SQUARE FIT
MAGELLANIC CLOUDS
MASS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MAXIMUM-LIKELIHOOD FIT
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
SPECTRA
SPECTROMETERS
STAR MODELS
STARS
SUPERNOVAE
VARIABLE STARS