Newly Synthesized Elements and Pristine Dust in the Cassiopeia A Supernova Remnant

Abstract

Spectroscopic observations at 2.4-45 μm of the young supernova remnant Cas A with the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) Short Wavelength Spectrometer reveal strong emission lines of O, Ne, Si, S, and Ar. These lines are observed at high velocities (several 103 km s-1) and are therefore associated with the supernova ejecta known as the fast-moving knots (FMKs). Continuum emission from dust is also seen in the Cas A spectrum. The continuum strength is spatially well correlated with the O and Ar line strengths, which indicates that the dust emission also arises from the FMKs. The dust continuum has an emission feature at ~22 μm which cannot be fitted by typical astronomical silicates but can be fitted with a particular class of silicate minerals. This suggests that the dust in Cas A is silicate material that has freshly condensed from the Cas A ejecta into a mineral form that is uncharacteristic of typical ISM dust grains.