Exosat observations of the Kepler supernova remnant

Journal Article · Fri Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/168184· OSTI ID:6967110

Smith, A; Peacock, A; Arnaud, M; Ballet, J; Rothenflug, R ^[1]

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1. ESA, Space Science Dept., Noordwijk (Netherlands) CEA, Centre d'Etudes Nucleaires de Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette (France)

The medium-energy experiment on board Exosat was used to measure the X-ray spectrum of the Kepler supernova remnant over the range 1.5-10 keV. An Fe emission line was clearly resolved with an energy of about 6.5 keV and equivalent width of about 1.8 keV. This was superposed on a continuum with a temperature of 5.0(+3.8, -1.9) keV. The medium-energy spectrum is shown to be consistent with a model in which the Kepler SNR is presently in a Sedov phase of evolution, the 5 keV continuum arises from the shocked interstellar/circumstellar medium, and thermal (but not ionization) equilibrium exists between electrons and ions behind the primary shock front. However, in this case, an overabundance of iron by more than 6 times cosmic is required. 28 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6967110
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (USA) Vol. 347; 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
ABSORPTION
ABUNDANCE
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
ELEMENT ABUNDANCE
ELEMENTS
EMISSION SPECTRA
ENERGY SPECTRA
ERUPTIVE VARIABLE STARS
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
IRON
METALS
SATELLITES
SPACE
SPECTRA
STAR EVOLUTION
STARS
SUPERNOVA REMNANTS
SUPERNOVAE
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VARIABLE STARS
X-RAY SPECTRA