The morphology of the ejecta in Supernova 1987A: a study over time and wavelength

Abstract

We present a study of the morphology of the ejecta in Supernova 1987A based on images and spectra from the HST as well as integral field spectroscopy from VLT/SINFONI. The HST observations were obtained between 1994 - 2011 and primarily probe the outer hydrogen-rich zones of the ejecta. The SINFONI observations were obtained in 2005 and 2011 and instead probe the [Si I]/[Fe II] emission from the inner regions. We find a strong temporal evolution of the morphology in the HST images, from a roughly elliptical shape before ~5,000 days, to a more irregular, edge-brightened morphology thereafter. This transition is a natural consequence of the change in the dominant energy source powering the ejecta, from radioactive decay before ~5,000 days to X-ray input from the circumstellar interaction thereafter. The [Si I]/[Fe II] images display a more uniform morphology, which may be due to a remaining significant contribution from radioactivity in the inner ejecta and the higher abundance of these elements in the core. Both the H-alpha and the [Si I]/[Fe II] line profiles show that the ejecta are distributed fairly close to the plane of the inner circumstellar ring, which is assumed to define the rotational axis of the progenitor. The H-alpha emission extends to higher velocities than [Si I]/[Fe II] as expected. There is no clear symmetry axis for all the emission and we are unable to model the ejecta distribution with a simple ellipsoid model with a uniform distribution of dust. Instead, we find that the emission is concentrated to clumps and that the emission is distributed somewhat closer to the ring in the north than in the south. This north-south asymmetry may be partially explained by dust absorption. We compare our results with explosion models and find some qualitative agreement, but note that the observations show a higher degree of large-scale asymmetry.

arXiv commentAccepted for publication in ApJ

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• A two-component model for fitting light-curves of core-collapse supernovae
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• Matter Mixing in Aspherical Core-collapse Supernovae: Three-dimensional Simulations with Single Star and Binary Merger Progenitor Models for SN 1987A
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• Late Spectral Evolution of the Ejecta and Reverse Shock in SN1987A
• Emission lines due to ionizing radiation from a compact object in the remnant of Supernova 1987A
• ALMA spectral survey of Supernova 1987A --- molecular inventory, chemistry, dynamics and explosive nucleosynthesis
• The 30-Year Search for the Compact Object in SN 1987A
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• Supernova 1987A: 3D Mixing and light curves for explosion models based on binary-merger progenitors
• The matter beyond the ring: the recent evolution of SN 1987A observed by the Hubble Space Telescope
• The 2D Distribution of Iron Rich Ejecta in the Remnant of SN 1885 in M31
• JWST NIRSpec observations of Supernova 1987A -- from the inner ejecta to the reverse shock
• Discovery of molecular hydrogen in SN 1987A
• Properties of gamma-ray decay lines in 3D core-collapse supernova models, with application to SN 1987A and Cas A
• Forming equatorial rings around dying stars
• Search for a Radio Pulsar in the Remnant of Supernova 1987A
• A population of Type Ibc supernovae with massive progenitors; broad lightcurves not uncommon in (i)PTF
• Modelling supernova nebular lines in 3D with $\text{ExTraSS}$
• Observational limits on the early-time dust mass in SN1987A
• Properties of the three-dimensional structure in the central region of the supernova remnant SNR 0540-69.3
• Mapping High-velocity H-alpha and Lyman-alpha Emission from Supernova 1987A
• A 3D view of molecular hydrogen in Supernova 1987A
• The morphology of the ejecta of SN 1987A at 31 years from 1150 to 10000 Å
• Tracing the ejecta structure of SN 1987A: Insights and diagnostics from 3D MHD simulations
• Investigating Time Evolution of Thermal Emission from the Putative Neutron Star in SN 1987A for 50+ Years
• Probing the Physical Conditions of Supernova Ejecta with the Measured Sizes of Presolar Al2O3 Grains
• Near-infrared evolution of the equatorial ring of SN 1987A
• The Radio Remnant of Supernova 1987A - A Broader View
• Mantle Degassing Lifetimes through Galactic Time and the Maximum Age Stagnant-lid Rocky Exoplanets can Support Temperate Climates