A Third Epoch Proper Motion Study of The Forward Shock in Kepler's Supernova Remnant

TL;DR

This study measures the expansion of Kepler's Supernova Remnant over three epochs to analyze its shock velocity and deceleration, providing insights into the explosion dynamics and surrounding medium.

Contribution

First multi-epoch proper motion analysis of Kepler's SNR using three Chandra observations, improving velocity measurements and assessing deceleration.

Findings

Proper motion measurements consistent with previous studies

No significant evidence of blast wave deceleration

Circumstellar material density appears roughly constant around the remnant

Abstract

We present measurements of the expansion of Kepler's Supernova Remnant (SNR) over three epochs of Chandra X-ray observations from 2000, 2006, and 2014. As the remnant of a historical supernova (observed in 1604 CE), Kepler's SNR presents the rare opportunity to study the dynamical evolution of such an object in real time. Measurements of the asymmetry in forward shock velocity can also provide insight into the nature of the explosion and density of the circumstellar material. Combining data from 2014 with previous epochs in 2000 and 2006, we can observe the proper motion of filaments along the outer rim of the SNR. Prior studies of Kepler's SNR have shown proper motion differences up to a factor of 3 between northern and southern regions around the remnant. With the longer time baseline we use here, we find results that are consistent with previous studies, but with smaller uncertainties. Additionally, by adding a third epoch of observations, we search for any systemic change in the velocity in the form of a deceleration of the blast wave, as was recently reported in Tycho's SNR. We find little to no conclusive evidence of such deceleration, and conclude that Kepler's SNR is encountering circumstellar material that is roughly constant in density, though substantially varied around the periphery.