Spectrophotometry of Supernovae and their Remnants

Citation

Kirshner, Robert Paul (1975) Spectrophotometry of Supernovae and their Remnants. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/YN9G-P338. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-04092004-111020

Abstract

Spectrophotometry of extragalactic supernovae shortly after discovery, and of galactic supernova remnants has been used to derive the masses, temeratures[sic], compositions, and distances of supernovae.

The Crab Nebula is shown to have a mass of ionized hydrogen in excess of 0.3 M_⊙, but no enrichment of oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur. The Cygnus Loop is shown to emit [Fe XIV], indicating gas at 2 x 10⁶ °K: this establishes the thermal nature of the x-ray emission, and casts doubt on the Loop's size and distance.

Type II supernovae are shown to be consistent with a few solar masses of material at cosmic abundance. Their distances are found without reference to any other astronomical distance through a model of the expansion. Type I supernovae are shown to consist of about 1 solar mass of matter that may be 20 times enriched in iron, if the identification of [Fe II] lines at late stages is correct.

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