In a groundbreaking development in the field of astronomy, scientists are gearing up to exploit the advanced capabilities of the newly launched XRISM satellite, with a focus on Supernova (SN) 1987A. This extraordinary supernova provides an unprecedented opportunity to observe the transformation of a supernova into a young supernova remnant.
Historically, the X-ray emissions observed from SN 1987A have primarily been from the shocked circumstellar medium surrounding the supernova. However, recent studies have shown a significant shift, indicating that the X-ray emissions in the coming years will be increasingly dominated by the supernova’s ejecta.
The primary goal of the scientists is to utilize the high-resolution XRISM-Resolve spectrometer to detect and analyze the signatures of these shocked ejecta within SN 1987A. Leveraging sophisticated magneto-hydrodynamic simulations, which accurately describe the evolution of SN 1987A to its current state, researchers have synthesized what the XRISM-Resolve spectrum of SN 1987A would look like. This synthesis is based on observations planned for the performance verification phase scheduled for 2024.
Upper left panel: distribution of emission measure (EM) for the total X-ray emitting plasma in SN 1987A as a function of the plasma temperature and ionization parameter, as predicted by our MHD model for the year 2024. Upper right panels: same as left panel for the ER, H ii region, and ejecta from top to bottom, respectively.
The findings from these predictions are compelling. They reveal that the shocked ejecta are now playing a crucial role in shaping the emission line profiles. One of the most striking revelations is the increase in line widths, a result of the Doppler broadening caused by the rapid expansion of the ejecta. This expansion is substantially greater than any previously observed values.
With the upcoming XRISM spectra, scientists anticipate establishing a definitive link between the broadened line emissions and the newly shocked ejecta. This breakthrough will not only shed light on the dynamics of the ejecta but also reveal their chemical composition, further enhancing our understanding of the universe. This exciting development marks a significant milestone in space exploration and the study of supernovae.
Sources
Sapienza, Vincenzo, et al. “Probing Shocked Ejecta in SN 1987A: A Novel Diagnostic Approach Using XRISM-Resolve.” ArXiv (Cornell University), vol. 61, 18 Dec. 2023, https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2312.1112
Image Credit
STScI, NASA. “Chandra :: Photo Album :: Supernova 1987A :: More Images of Supernova 1987A.” Chandra.si.edu, 2017, chandra.si.edu/photo/2017/sn1987a/more.html
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