Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons™
Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 1 of 1
Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Location Of The Optical Reverse Shock In The Cassiopeia A Supernova Remnant, Jon A. Morse, Robert A. Fesen, Roger A. Chevalier, Kazimierz J. Borkowski
Location Of The Optical Reverse Shock In The Cassiopeia A Supernova Remnant, Jon A. Morse, Robert A. Fesen, Roger A. Chevalier, Kazimierz J. Borkowski
Dartmouth Scholarship
We use two epochs of Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 images separated by 2 yr to determine the location and propagation of the reverse shock (RS) in the young supernova remnant Cassiopeia A (Cas A). The images trace optical line emission from fast-moving knots and filaments of highly processed ejecta as they cross the RS, become heated and compressed, and radiatively cool. At numerous positions around the optical shell, new emission features are seen in the 2002 images that were not yet visible in the 2000 exposures. In a few instances emission features seen in the first epoch have completely disappeared …