Radio observations of supernova 1987A

Lister Staveley-Smith, Toby Potter, G. Zanardo, B.M. Gaensler, N. Chi Yung

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference paperConference paperpeer-review

    2 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Supernovae and their remnants are believed to be prodigious sources of Galactic cosmic rays and interstellar dust. Understanding the mechanisms behind their surprisingly high production rate is helped by the study of nearby young supernova remnants. There has been none better in modern times than SN1987A, for which radio observations have been made for over a quarter of a century. We review extensive observations made with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) at centimetre wavelengths. Emission at frequencies from 1 to 100 GHz is dominated by synchrotron radiation from an outer shock front which has been growing exponentially in strength from day 3000, and is currently sweeping around the circumstellar ring at about 4000 km s-1. Three dimensional models of the propagation of the shock into the circumstellar medium are able to reproduce the main observational features of the remnant, and their evolution. We find that up to 4% of the electrons encountered by the shock are accelerated to relativistic energies. High-frequency ALMA observations will break new ground in the understanding of dust and molecule production. © International Astronomical Union 2014.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationProceedings of the International Astronomical Union: Symposium S296 (Supernova Environmental Impacts)
    PublisherCambridge University Press
    Pages15-22
    Volume9
    ISBN (Print)17439213
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2014
    EventRadio observations of supernova 1987A - India
    Duration: 1 Jan 2014 → …

    Conference

    ConferenceRadio observations of supernova 1987A
    Period1/01/14 → …

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