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Infrared Continuum and Line Evolution of the Equatorial Ring Around SN 1987ASpitzer observations of SN 1987A have now spanned more than a decade. Since day approximately 4000, mid-infrared (mid-IR) emission has been dominated by that from shock-heated dust in the equatorial ring (ER). From 6000 to 8000 days after the explosion, Spitzer observations included broadband photometry at 3.6-24 micrometer, and low and moderate resolution spectroscopy at 5-35 micrometer. Here we present later Spitzer observations, through day 10,377, which include only the broadband measurements at 3.6 and 4.5 micrometer. These data show that the 3.6 and 4.5 micrometer brightness has clearly begun to fade after day approximately 8500, and no longer tracks the X-ray emission as well as it did at earlier epochs. This can be explained by the destruction of the dust in the ER on timescales shorter than the cooling time for the shocked gas. We find that the evolution of the late time IR emission is also similar to the now fading optical emission. We provide the complete record of the IR emission lines, as seen by Spitzer prior to day 8000. The past evolution of the gas as seen by the IR emission lines seems largely consistent with the optical emission, although the IR [Fe(II)]and [Si(II)]lines show different, peculiar velocity structures.
Document ID
20170002400
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Arendt, Richard G.
(Maryland Univ. Baltimore County Baltimore, MD, United States)
Dwek, Eli
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Bouchet, Patrice
(Universite Paris Diderot Paris, France)
Danziger, I. John
(National Inst. for Astrophysics Astronomical Observatory (INAF) Trieste, Italy)
Frank, Kari A.
(Pennsylvania State Univ. University Park, PA, United States)
Gehrz, Robert D.
(Minnesota Univ. Minneapolis, MN, United States)
Park, Sangwook
(Texas Univ. Arlington, TX, United States)
Woodward, Charles E.
(Minnesota Univ. Minneapolis, MN, United States)
Date Acquired
March 21, 2017
Publication Date
February 18, 2017
Publication Information
Publication: The Astrophysical Journal
Publisher: AAS/IOP Publishing partnership
Volume: 151
Issue: 3
e-ISSN: 1538-4357
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Astrophysics
Report/Patent Number
GSFC-E-DAA-TN40254
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNG06EO90A
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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