Journal article
A JWST Survey of the Supernova Remnant Cassiopeia A
Astrophysical journal. Letters, v 965(2), pL27
01 Apr 2024
Abstract
We present initial results from a James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) survey of the youngest Galactic core-collapse supernova remnant, Cassiopeia A (Cas A), made up of NIRCam and MIRI imaging mosaics that map emission from the main shell, interior, and surrounding circumstellar/interstellar material (CSM/ISM). We also present four exploratory positions of MIRI Medium Resolution Spectrograph integral field unit spectroscopy that sample ejecta, CSM, and associated dust from representative shocked and unshocked regions. Surprising discoveries include (1) a weblike network of unshocked ejecta filaments resolved to similar to 0.01 pc scales exhibiting an overall morphology consistent with turbulent mixing of cool, low-entropy matter from the progenitor's oxygen layer with hot, high-entropy matter heated by neutrino interactions and radioactivity; (2) a thick sheet of dust-dominated emission from shocked CSM seen in projection toward the remnant's interior pockmarked with small (similar to 1 '') round holes formed by less than or similar to 0.'' 1 knots of high-velocity ejecta that have pierced through the CSM and driven expanding tangential shocks; and (3) dozens of light echoes with angular sizes between similar to 0.'' 1 and 1 ' reflecting previously unseen fine-scale structure in the ISM. NIRCam observations place new upper limits on infrared emission (less than or similar to 20 nJy at 3 mu m) from the neutron star in Cas A's center and tightly constrain scenarios involving a possible fallback disk. These JWST survey data and initial findings help address unresolved questions about massive star explosions that have broad implications for the formation and evolution of stellar populations, the metal and dust enrichment of galaxies, and the origin of compact remnant objects.
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Details
- Title
- A JWST Survey of the Supernova Remnant Cassiopeia A
- Creators
- Dan Milisavljevic - Purdue University West LafayetteTea Temim - Princeton UniversityIlse De Looze - Ghent UniversityDanielle Dickinson - Purdue University West LafayetteJ. Martin Laming - United States Naval Research LaboratoryRobert Fesen - Dartmouth CollegeJohn C. Raymond - Center for Astrophysics Harvard & SmithsonianRichard G. Arendt - University of Maryland, Baltimore CountyJacco Vink - University of AmsterdamBettina Posselt - Pennsylvania State UniversityGeorge G. Pavlov - Pennsylvania State UniversityOri D. Fox - Space Telescope Science InstituteEthan Pinarski - Purdue University West LafayetteBhagya Subrayan - Purdue University West LafayetteJudy Schmidt - Michigan Technological UniversityWilliam P. Blair - Johns Hopkins UniversityArmin Rest - Space Telescope Science InstituteDaniel Patnaude - Center for Astrophysics Harvard & SmithsonianBon-Chul Koo - Seoul Natl Univ, Dept Phys & Astron, Seoul 08861, South KoreaJeonghee Rho - Search for Extraterrestrial IntelligenceSalvatore Orlando - Osservatorio Astronomico di PalermoHans-Thomas Janka - Max Planck Institute for AstrophysicsMoira Andrews - Purdue University West LafayetteMichael J. Barlow - University College LondonAdam Burrows - Princeton UniversityRoger Chevalier - University of VirginiaGeoffrey Clayton - Louisiana State UniversityClaes Fransson - Stockholm UniversityChristopher Fryer - Los Alamos Natl Lab, Ctr Theoret Astrophys, Los Alamos, NM 87545 USAHaley L. Gomez - Cardiff UniversityFlorian Kirchschlager - Ghent UniversityJae-Joon Lee - Korea Astronomy and Space Science InstituteMikako Matsuura - Cardiff UniversityMaria Niculescu-Duvaz - University College LondonJustin D. R. Pierel - Space Telescope Sci Inst, 3700 San Martin Dr, Baltimore, MD 21218 USAPaul P. Plucinsky - Center for Astrophysics Harvard & SmithsonianFelix D. Priestley - Cardiff UniversityAravind P. Ravi - University of California, DavisNina S. Sartorio - Ghent UniversityFranziska Schmidt - University College LondonMelissa Shahbandeh - Space Telescope Science InstitutePatrick Slane - Center for Astrophysics Harvard & SmithsonianNathan Smith - University of ArizonaNiharika Sravan - Drexel UniversityKathryn Weil - Purdue University West LafayetteRoger Wesson - Cardiff UniversityJ. Craig Wheeler - The University of Texas at Austin
- Publication Details
- Astrophysical journal. Letters, v 965(2), pL27
- Publisher
- IOP Publishing Ltd
- Number of pages
- 21
- Grant note
- Space Telescope Science Institute National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)https://doi.org/10.13039/100000104 NAS 5-03127 / NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope NASA; National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Physics
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001203471700001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85190718706
- Other Identifier
- 991021877361704721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Astronomy & Astrophysics