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Evidence for iron whiskers in SN1987A

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Abstract

The development of infrared emission from Supernova 1987A is modelled on the basis of a mixture of millimetre long iron whiskers of radius 0.01 µm, and spherical iron grains of the same radius. The total mass of iron grains involved is less than 10−5 M ⊙.

The observations are consistent with only a small mass fraction of whisker-type grains relative to spherical grains present in the infrared emitting region, but with larger quantities of whiskers expelled further out. Spectral data over the wavelength range 30 cm-3 µm at around day 1300 provides striking evidence for iron whiskers in the infrared emitting region of SN1987A.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mathematics, University of Wales College of Cardiff, Cardiff, U.K.

    N. C. Wickramasinghe

  2. 24 Llwynypia Road, Lisvane, Cardiff, U.K.

    A. N. Wickramasinghe

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  1. N. C. Wickramasinghe
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  2. A. N. Wickramasinghe
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Wickramasinghe, N.C., Wickramasinghe, A.N. Evidence for iron whiskers in SN1987A. Astrophys Space Sci 200, 145–150 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00658117

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00658117

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