Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-18T05:59:40.982Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Optical spectroscopy of SN 1987A

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 April 2016

J.B. Hearnshaw  and
V.J. McIntyre
J.B. Hearnshaw
Affiliation:
Mt John University Observatory, University of Canterbury
V.J. McIntyre
Affiliation:
Mt John University Observatory, University of Canterbury
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Mt John Observatory photographic spectra of SN 1987A have been obtained on 111 nights during the first year at resolutions of 1.1 Å (blue) and 1.6 Å (red). The early spectra are dominated by broad P Cygni profiles from neutral or singly ionised species. Ba absorption lines may be present. After six months nebular emission features emerged, including [OI] 630, 636 nm and two unidentified UV lines (367, 375 nm) in the previously dark region below 380 nm. Absorption line radial velocities show steep declines in the first month, but are almost constant or only slowly decline after 100 days. For the Hα absorption minimum the initial decline rate was 690 ± 70 km s−1d−1 and the initial velocity was −20.2±0.5 Mm s−1 (LMC frame). By 1988 Feb the slowest material in absorption was at −2.2 Mm s−1.

The emission maxima of Hα and NaID show anomalous redshifts of about 1.0 Mm s−1. The [OI] lines show no such redshift. Recent [OI] and Hα spectra at higher resolution show ‘fine structure’ in the profiles, indicating inhomogeneity in the ejecta. Hβ, Hγ and Hδ (but not Hα) were all weaker or absent from 1987 late March to early May, but strong thereafter. From about 1987 Mar 18 to Apr 17 Hα showed a bump on the blue side of the emission at 647 nm and a double peak (658 and 668 nm). Absorption bumps in the Hα profile in early spectra (1987 Feb) may be due to circumstellar water vapour.

Type
Research Article
Information
Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia , Volume 7 , Issue 4 , 1988 , pp. 424 - 430
Copyright
Copyright © Astronomical Society of Australia 1988

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Allen, D.A. 1988, private communication May 1988.Google Scholar
Ashoka, B.N., Anapuma, G.C., Prabhu, T.P., Giridhar, S., Gosh, K.K., Jain, S.K., Pati, A.K., Kameswara Rao, N. 1987, J. Astropkys. Astron. 8, 195.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blanco, V.M., Gregory, B., Hamuy, M., Heathcote, S.R., Phillips, M.M., Suntzeff, N.B., Terndrup, D.M., Walker, A.R., Williams, R.E., Pastoriza, M.G., Storchi-Bergmann, T., Matthews, J. 1987, Astrophys. J. 320, 589.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Branch, D. 1987, Astrophys. J. Lett. 320, L121.Google Scholar
Caroff, L.J., Noerdlinger, P.D., Scargle, P.D. 1972, Astrophys. J. 176, 439.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cropper, M., Bailey, J.A. 1987, IAU Circ. #4319.Google Scholar
Danziger, I.J., Fosbury, R.A.E., Alloin, D., Cristioni, S., Dachs, J., Gouiffes, C., JarvisB., , Sahu, K.C. 1987, Astron. Astropkys. 177, L13.Google Scholar
Fosbury, R.A.E., Danziger, I.J., Lucy, L.B., Gouiffes, C., Cristiani, S. 1987, Proc. ESO Workshop on the SN 1987A, ed. Danziger, I.J. p. 139.Google Scholar
Greenstein, J.L., Minkowski, R. 1973, Astrophys. J. 182, 225.Google Scholar
Haas, M.R., Colgan, S.W., Erickson, E.F., Lord, S.D., Burton, M.G. 1988, IAU Circ. #4578.Google Scholar
Hanuschik, R.W., Dachs, J. 1987a, Astron. Astrophys. 182, L29.Google Scholar
Hanuschik, R.W., Dachs, J. 1987b, Proc. ESO Workshop on the SN 1987A, ed. Danziger, I.J., p.153.Google Scholar
Hearnshaw, J.B., Haar, J. 1987a, IAU Circ. #4352.Google Scholar
Hearnshaw, J.B., Haar, J. 1987b, IAU Circ. #4355.Google Scholar
Hearnshaw, J.B., Mclntyre, V.J., Gilmore, A.C. 1988, J. Astrophys. Astron. 9, 93.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hearnshaw, J.B., Mclntyre, V.J. 1987, IAU Circ. #4456.Google Scholar
Herbig, G.H. 1975, Astrophys. J. 196, 129.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Höflich, P. 1988, Proc. Workshop “SN 1987A, one year later”, La Thuile, (also this volume).Google Scholar
Kameswara Rao, N. 1988, personal communication 3 June 1988.Google Scholar
Kirshner, R.P., Kwan, J. 1975, Astrophys. J. 197, 415.Google Scholar
Kirshner, R.P., Oke, J.B., Penston, M.V., Searle, L. 1973, Astrophys. J. 185, 303.Google Scholar
Larson, H.P., Drapatz, S., Mumma, M.J., Weaver, H.A. 1987, Proc. ESO Workshop on SN 1987A, ed. Danziger, I.J. p. 147.Google Scholar
McIntyre, V.J. 1988, MSc thesis, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.Google Scholar
Minkowski, R. 1941, Publ. Astron. Soc. Pac. 53, 224.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Oliva, E., Moorwood, A.F.M., Danziger, I.J. 1987, ESO Messenger 50, 18.Google Scholar
Phillips, M.M. 1988, in Proc. George Mason Workshop on SN 1987A, ed. Kafatos, M. (C.U.P.) (in press).Google Scholar
Phillips, M.M., Heathcote, S.R., Hamuy, M., Navarrete, M. 1988 (preprint).Google Scholar
Pskovskii, Y.P. 1978, Soviet Astron. J. 201.Google Scholar
Rester, A.C., Eichhorn, G., Coldwell, R.L., Trombka, J.I., Starr, R., Lasche, G.P. 1988, IAU Circ. #4535.Google Scholar
Schwarz, H.E., Mundt, R. 1987, Astron. Astrophys. 177, L4.Google Scholar
Stathakis, R. 1988, AAO Newsletter 45, 1.Google Scholar
Williams, R.E. 1987, Astrophys. J. Lett. 320, L117.Google Scholar
Woosley, S.E. 1988, this volume.Google Scholar