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Far-infrared observations of thermal dust emission from supernova 1987A

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Abstract

INFRARED observations of supernova 1987A are important for studying both the evolution of the ejecta and its interaction with the surrounding interstellar medium. Here we report observtions of SN1987A, in the spectral range 18–35μm, taken on 16 and 23 November 1988, 632 and 639 days after core collapse. A strong (∼10Jy at 20μm) and rather flat continuum underlies weak fine-structure lines from heavy elements, and declines slowly between 24 and 30μm. Its spectral shape is indicative of thermal emission from an almost featureless dust component, probably graphite, with silicates contributing <20% of the emitting dust mass. Some of the emission may be an 'echo' of supernova light reflected from a pre-existing dust cloud1, but a better explanation, which can account for the entirety of emission from infrared to gamma wavelengths, is that dust is being formed in the supernova ejecta2. This also accounts more naturally for the inferred dust composition. Continuous observation is needed to determine the relative importance of these two components of the infrared emission.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Astronomy and Solar Physics, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, 20771, USA

    S. H. Moseley, E. Dwek & R. F. Silverberg

  2. Applied Research Corporation, 8201 Corporate Drive, Landover, Maryland, 20785, USA

    W. Glaccum

  3. Downs Laboratory, California Institute of Technology 320–47, Pasadena, California, 91125, USA

    J. R. Graham

  4. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Chicago, Yerkes Observatory, Williams Bay, Wisconsin, 53191, USA

    R. F. Loewenstein

Authors
  1. S. H. Moseley
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  2. E. Dwek
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  3. W. Glaccum
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  4. J. R. Graham
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  5. R. F. Loewenstein
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  6. R. F. Silverberg
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Moseley, S., Dwek, E., Glaccum, W. et al. Far-infrared observations of thermal dust emission from supernova 1987A. Nature 340, 697–699 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1038/340697a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/340697a0

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