High Resolution X-Ray Spectroscopy of SN 1987A: Monitoring with XMM-Newton

TL;DR

This paper presents high-resolution X-ray spectroscopic monitoring of SN 1987A with XMM-Newton, revealing the evolution of plasma parameters, deceleration of plasma velocities, and potential iron K features over several years.

Contribution

It provides detailed spectral analysis of SN 1987A's remnant evolution using XMM-Newton, highlighting plasma dynamics and spectral features not previously observed in such detail.

Findings

Significant evolution of plasma parameters over time.

Deceleration of the lower temperature plasma regions.

Possible detection of an iron K emission feature.

Abstract

We report the results of our XMM-Newton monitoring of SN 1987A. The ongoing propagation of the supernova blast wave through the inner circumstellar ring caused a drastic increase in X-ray luminosity during the last years, enabling detailed high resolution X-ray spectroscopy with the Reflection Grating Spectrometer. The observations can be used to follow the detailed evolution of the arising supernova remnant. The fluxes and broadening of the numerous emission lines seen in the dispersed spectra provide information on the evolution of the X-ray emitting plasma and its dynamics. These were analyzed in combination with the EPIC-pn spectra, which allow a precise determination of the higher temperature plasma. We modeled individual emission lines and fitted plasma emission models. Especially from the observations between 2003 and 2007 we can see a significant evolution of the plasma parameters and a deceleration of the radial velocity of the lower temperature plasma regions. We found an indication (3-sigma-level) of an iron K feature in the co-added EPIC-pn spectra. The comparison with Chandra grating observations in 2004 yields a clear temporal coherence of the spectral evolution and the sudden deceleration of the expansion velocity seen in X-ray images ~6100 days after the explosion.