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Rapid ionization of the environment of SN 1987AIt has been suggested by some authors that IUE observations of the supernova SN 1987A show the presence of a strong component of the interstellar C IV 1550 and Si IV 1393 absorption lines at a velocity that approximately corresponds to the velocity of the LMC. It is possible that this component might come from originally neutral (or at least not very highly ionized) gas which has been photoionized by the initially very strong ionizing radiation field of the supernova. Theoretical considerations of this scenario lead to the study of fast (with velocities of about c) ionization fronts. It is shown that for reasonable model parameters it is possible to obtain considerably large C IV column densities, in agreement with the IUE observations. On the other hand, the models do not so easily predict the large Si IV column densities that are also obtained from the IUE observations. It is found that only models in which the interstellar medium surrounding SN 1987A is initially composed of already ionized hydrogen and helium predict substantial Si IV column densities. This result provides an interesting prediction of the ionization state of the environment of the presupernova star.
Document ID
19880034250
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Raga, A. C.
(Washington, University Seattle, United States)
Date Acquired
August 13, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 1987
Publication Information
Publication: Astronomical Journal
Volume: 94
ISSN: 0004-6256
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
88A21477
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF AST-85-19771
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSG-5398
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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