Gamma-ray imaging observations of Supernova 1987A

Citation

Palmer, David M. (1992) Gamma-ray imaging observations of Supernova 1987A. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/ctqh-qa26. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:09012011-153518265

Abstract

The Caltech imaging γ-ray telescope has made four balloon flights from Alice Springs, Australia, to observe the hard X-ray and γ-ray emission from Supernova 1987 A as it evolved between 1987 May and 1989 April. We have detected γ-rays with the time behavior and spectral signature expected from freshly-synthesized radioisotopes embedded in a cloud of ejecta. In particular, we detect the 847 and 1238 keY γ-ray lines produced by the decay of ^(56)Co, and the continuum spectrum expected from Compton scattering of these γ-trays. The results of these observations are compared with other measurements and with theoretical models of supernovae, and it is found that our results are consistent with core-collapse models for SN 1987A in which the centrally-produced radioisotopes have propagated outwards to mix with the ejecta.

Thesis Files