High-Resolution X-ray Spectroscopy of SNR 1987A: Chandra LETG and HETG Observations in 2007

TL;DR

This study analyzes 2007 Chandra X-ray spectra of SNR 1987A, revealing stable slow shock temperatures, decreasing fast shock temperatures, and evidence of double-shocked gas, advancing understanding of supernova remnant shock dynamics.

Contribution

It introduces a new model accounting for double-shocked gas and provides detailed spectral analysis of SNR 1987A's shock evolution over three years.

Findings

Slow shock temperatures remained stable over three years.

Fast shock temperatures decreased during the same period.

X-ray emission likely originates from gas shocked twice.

Abstract

We present an extended analysis of the deep Chandra LETG and HETG observations of the supernova remnant 1987A (SNR 1987A) carried out in 2007. The global fits to the grating spectra show that the temperature of the X-ray emitting plasma in the slower shocks in this system has remained stable for the last three years, while that in the faster shocks has decreased. This temperature evolution is confirmed by the first light curves of strong X-ray emission lines and their ratios. On the other hand, bulk gas velocities inferred from the X-ray line profiles are too low to account for the post-shock plasma temperatures inferred from spectral fits. This suggests that the X-ray emission comes from gas that has been shocked twice, first by the blast wave and again by shocks reflected from the inner ring of SNR 1987A. A new model that takes these considerations into account gives support to this physical picture.