High Resolution Imaging of SN 1987A at 10 micron
Abstract
Using The Thermal-Region Camera and Spectrograph (T-ReCS) attached to the Gemini South 8m telescope, we have detected and resolved 10 micron emission at the position of the inner equatorial ring (ER) of supernova SN 1987A at day 6067. "Hot Spots" similar to, but not necessarily coincident with, those found in the optical and near-IR are clearly present. The morphology of the 10 micron emission is globally similar to the morphology at other wavelengths from X-ray to radio. The mid-IR flux in the region of SN 1987A is dominated by emission from dust in the ER. Our observations also show a weak detection of the central ejecta at 10 micron, which implies that previous bolometric flux estimates (through day 2100) were not significantly contaminated by this newly discovered emission from the ring. If we assume a dust temperature of 160 K, the estimated thermal emission is 2.E+37 erg/s from the ER and 1.E+36 erg/s from the ejecta. That latter value is too low to account for the energy budget of the supernova computed by current models. Finally, using SN 1987A as a template, we discuss the possible role of supernovae as major sources of dust in the Universe.Keywords
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