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X- or γ rays from Supernovae in glacial ice

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Abstract

In an analysis of NO−3 in an Antarctic ice core we have found four spikes of high concentration, three of which occur at depths which correspond roughly to the dates of known galactic supernovae (SN). The production of the observed NO−3 peaks by the hard X rays generated by a SN outburst (particularly Type I) does not seem inconceivable at least from the point of view of energy requirements and current SN models. We predict that the bright SN of 1006 will be ‘Observed’ about 15 m beyond the end of the current core. If this is true, our identification of these spikes with SN will have important consequences for the theory of SN, atmospheric chemistry and transport, and even the dating of ice cores.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Virginia and Institut d'Astrophysique, Paris

    Robert T. Rood

  2. University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, 22903

    Craig L. Sarazin

  3. National Radio Astronomy Observatory,

    Craig L. Sarazin

  4. University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, 66044

    Edward J. Zeller

  5. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, 24061

    Bruce C. Parker

Authors
  1. Robert T. Rood
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  2. Craig L. Sarazin
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  3. Edward J. Zeller
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  4. Bruce C. Parker
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Rood, R., Sarazin, C., Zeller, E. et al. X- or γ rays from Supernovae in glacial ice. Nature 282, 701–703 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/282701a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/282701a0

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