Kepler's Supernova Remnant Research Articles

Characterization of the Gamma-ray Emission from the Kepler Supernova Remnant with Fermi-LAT

The Kepler supernova remnant (SNR) had been the only historic SNR that lacked a detection at GeV and TeV energies, which probe particle acceleration. A recent analysis of Fermi-LAT data reported a likely GeV γ-ray candidate in the direction of the SNR. Using approximately the same data set but with an optimized analysis configuration, we confirm the γ-ray candidate to a solid >6σ detection and report a spectral index of 2.14 ± 0.12stat ± 0.15syst for an energy flux above 100 MeV of (3.1 ± 0.6stat ± 0.3syst) × 10−12 erg cm−2 s−1. The γ-ray excess is not significantly extended and is fully compatible with the radio, infrared, and X-ray spatial distribution of the SNR. We successfully characterized this multiwavelength emission with a model in which accelerated particles interact with the dense circumstellar material in the northwest portion of the SNR and radiate GeV γ rays through π° decay. The X-ray synchrotron and inverse-Compton emission mostly stem from the fast shocks in the southern regions with a magnetic field B ~ 100 μG or higher. Depending on the exact magnetic field amplitude, the TeV γ-ray emission could arise from either the south region (inverse-Compton dominated) or the interaction region (π° decay dominated).

Spatially Resolved RGS Analysis of Kepler’s Supernova Remnant

Abstract The distribution and kinematics of the circumstellar medium (CSM) around a supernova remnant (SNR) tell us useful information about the explosion of its natal supernova (SN). Kepler's SNR, the remnant of SN 1604, is widely regarded to be of Type Ia origin. Its shock is moving through a dense, asymmetric CSM. The presence of this dense gas suggests that its parent progenitor system consisted of a white dwarf and an asymptotic giant branch (AGB) star. In this paper, we analyze a new and long observation with the reflection grating spectrometers on board the XMM-Newton satellite, spatially resolving the remnant emission in the cross-dispersion direction. We find that the CSM component is blueshifted with velocities in the general range 0–500 km s−1. We also derive information on the central bar structure and find that the northwest half is blueshifted, while the southeast half is redshifted. Our result is consistent with a picture proposed by previous studies, in which a “runaway” AGB star moved to the north-northwest and toward us in the line of sight, although it is acceptable for both single- and core-degenerate scenarios for the progenitor system.

A study of Kepler supernova remnant: angular power spectrum estimation from radio frequency data

ABSTRACT Supernova remnants (SNRs) have a variety of overall morphology as well as rich structures over a wide range of scales. Quantitative study of these structures can potentially reveal fluctuations of density and magnetic field originating from the interaction with ambient medium and turbulence in the expanding ejecta. We have used 1.5 GHz (L band) and 5 GHz (C band) VLA data to estimate the angular power spectrum Cℓ of the synchrotron emission fluctuations of the Kepler SNR. This is done using the novel, visibility-based, Tapered Gridded Estimator of Cℓ. We have found that, for ℓ = (1.9–6.9) × 104, the power spectrum is a broken power law with a break at ℓ = 3.3 × 104, and power-law index of −2.84 ± 0.07 and −4.39 ± 0.04 before and after the break, respectively. The slope −2.84 is consistent with 2D Kolmogorov turbulence and earlier measurements for the Tycho SNR. We interpret the break to be related to the shell thickness of the SNR (0.35 pc) which approximately matches ℓ = 3.3 × 104 (i.e. 0.48 pc). However, for ℓ > 6.9 × 104, the estimated Cℓ of L band is likely to have dominant contribution from the foregrounds while for C band the power-law slope −3.07 ± 0.02 is roughly consistent with 3D Kolmogorov turbulence like that observed at large ℓ for Cas A and Crab SNRs.

KEPLER’SSUPERNOVA: AN OVERLUMINOUS TYPE Ia EVENT INTERACTING WITH A MASSIVE CIRCUMSTELLAR MEDIUM AT A VERY LATE PHASE

We have analyzed XMM-Newton, Chandra, and Suzaku observations of Kepler's supernova remnant (SNR) to investigate the properties of both the SN ejecta and the circumstellar medium (CSM). For comparison, we have also analyzed two similarly-aged, ejecta-dominated SNRs: Tycho's SNR, thought to be the remnant of a typical Type Ia SN, and SNR 0509-67.5 in the Large Magellanic Cloud, thought to be the remnant of an overluminous Type Ia SN. By simply comparing the X-ray spectra, we find that line intensity ratios of iron-group elements (IGE) to intermediate-mass elements (IME) for Kepler's SNR and SNR 0509-67.5 are much higher than those for Tycho's SNR. We therefore argue that Kepler is the product of an overluminous Type Ia SN. This inference is supported by our spectral modeling, which reveals the IGE and IME masses respectively to be ~0.95 M_sun and ~0.12 M_sun (Kepler's SNR), ~0.75 M_sun and ~0.34 M_sun (SNR 0509-67.5), and ~0.35 M_sun and ~0.70 M_sun (Tycho's SNR). We find that the CSM component in Kepler's SNR consists of tenuous diffuse gas (~0.3 M_sun) present throughout the entire remnant, plus dense knots (~0.035 M_sun). Both of these components have an elevated N abundance (N/H ~ 4 times the solar value), suggesting that they originate from CNO-processed material from the progenitor system. The mass of the diffuse CSM allows us to infer the pre-SN mass-loss rate to be ~1.5e-5 (V_w/10 km/s) M_sun/yr, in general agreement with results from recent hydrodynamical simulations. Since the dense knots have slow proper motions and relatively small ionization timescales, they were likely located a few pc away from the progenitor system. Therefore, we argue that Kepler's SN was an overluminous event that started to interact with massive CSM a few hundred years after the explosion. This supports the possible link between overluminous SNe and the so-called "Ia-CSM" SNe.

A 3D numerical model for Kepler's supernova remnant

We present new 3D numerical simulations for Kepler's supernova remnant. In this work we revisit the possibility that the asymmetric shape of the remnant in X-rays is the product of a Type Ia supernova explosion which occurs inside the wind bubble previously created by an AGB companion star. Due to the large peculiar velocity of the system, the interaction of the strong AGB wind with the interstellar medium results in a bow shock structure. In this new model we propose that the AGB wind is anisotropic, with properties such as mass-loss rate and density having a latitude dependence, and that the orientation of the polar axis of the AGB star is not aligned with the direction of motion. The ejecta from the Type Ia supernova explosion is modelled using a power-law density profile, and we let the remnant evolve for 400 yr. We computed synthetic X-ray maps from the numerical results. We find that the estimated size and peculiar X-ray morphology of Kepler's supernova remnant are well reproduced by considering an AGB mass-loss rate of 10−5 M⊙ yr−1, a wind terminal velocity of 10 km s−1, an ambient medium density of 10−3 cm−3 and an explosion energy of 7 × 1050 erg. The obtained total X-ray luminosity of the remnant in this model reaches 6 × 1050 erg, which is within a factor of 2 of the observed value, and the time evolution of the luminosity shows a rate of decrease in recent decades of ∼2.4 per cent yr−1 that is consistent with the observations.

Modeling multiband emissions from two young SNRs with a time-dependent magnetic field

The nonthermal components in hard X-rays have been detected in two young supernova remnants (SNRs): SN 1006 and Kepler's SNR. Various theoretical models showed that the amplification of the magnetic field was crucial to explain their multiband emission properties. We investigate the evolution of the magnetic field and model the multiband emissions from these two young SNRs with a time-dependent injection model. The results indicate that (1) the radio and X-ray emissions are reproduced by synchrotron radiation of the injected electrons, while the γ-rays can be explained as inverse Compton scattering of the relativistic electrons and proton-proton interaction of the high-energy protons; and (2) the amplification of the magnetic field spontaneously happens with reasonable parameters.

X-RAY EMISSION FROM STRONGLY ASYMMETRIC CIRCUMSTELLAR MATERIAL IN THE REMNANT OF KEPLER'S SUPERNOVA

Kepler's supernova remnant resulted from a thermonuclear explosion, but is interacting with circumstellar material (CSM) lost from the progenitor system. We describe a statistical technique for isolating X-ray emission due to CSM from that due to shocked ejecta. Shocked CSM coincides well in position with 24 $\mu$m emission seen by {\sl Spitzer}. We find most CSM to be distributed along the bright north rim, but substantial concentrations are also found projected against the center of the remnant, roughly along a diameter with position angle $\sim 100^\circ$. We interpret this as evidence for a disk distribution of CSM before the SN, with the line of sight to the observer roughly in the disk plane. We present 2-D hydrodynamic simulations of this scenario, in qualitative agreement with the observed CSM morphology. Our observations require Kepler to have originated in a close binary system with an AGB star companion.

THE ORIGIN OF KEPLER'S SUPERNOVA REMNANT

It is now well established that Kepler's supernova remnant is the result of a Type Ia explosion. With an age of 407 years, and an angular diameter of ~ 4', Kepler is estimated to be between 3.0 and 7.0 kpc distant. Unlike other Galactic Type Ia supernova remnants such as Tycho and SN 1006, and SNR 0509-67.5 in the Large Magellanic Cloud, Kepler shows evidence for a strong circumstellar interaction. A bowshock structure in the north is thought to originate from the motion of a mass-losing system through the interstellar medium prior to the supernova. We present results of hydrodynamical and spectral modeling aimed at constraining the circumstellar environment of the system and the amount of 56Ni produced in the explosion. Using models that contain either 0.3 M_sun (subenergetic) or 1 M_sun (energetic) of 56Ni, we simulate the interaction between supernova Ia ejecta and various circumstellar density models. Based on dynamical considerations alone, we find that the subenergetic models favor a distance to the SNR of < 6.4 kpc, while the model that produces 1 M_sun of 56Ni requires a distance to the SNR of > 7 kpc. The X-ray spectrum is consistent with an explosion that produced ~ 1 M_sun of 56Ni, ruling out the subenergetic models, and suggesting that Kepler's SNR was a SN 1991T-like event. Additionally, the X-ray spectrum rules out a pure 1/r^2 wind profile expected from isotropic mass loss up to the time of the supernova. Introducing a small cavity around the progenitor system results in modeled X-ray spectra that are consistent with the observed spectrum. If a wind shaped circumstellar environment is necessary to explain the dynamics and X-ray emission from the shocked ejecta in Kepler's SNR, then we require that the distance to the remnant be greater than 7 kpc.

DUST IN A TYPE Ia SUPERNOVA PROGENITOR:SPITZERSPECTROSCOPY OF KEPLER'S SUPERNOVA REMNANT

Characterization of the relatively poorly-understood progenitor systems of Type Ia supernovae is of great importance in astrophysics, particularly given the important cosmological role that these supernovae play. Kepler's Supernova Remnant, the result of a Type Ia supernova, shows evidence for an interaction with a dense circumstellar medium (CSM), suggesting a single-degenerate progenitor system. We present 7.5-38 $\mu$m infrared (IR) spectra of the remnant, obtained with the {\it Spitzer Space Telescope}, dominated by emission from warm dust. Broad spectral features at 10 and 18 $\mu$m, consistent with various silicate particles, are seen throughout. These silicates were likely formed in the stellar outflow from the progenitor system during the AGB stage of evolution, and imply an oxygen-rich chemistry. In addition to silicate dust, a second component, possibly carbonaceous dust, is necessary to account for the short-wavelength IRS and IRAC data. This could imply a mixed chemistry in the atmosphere of the progenitor system. However, non-spherical metallic iron inclusions within silicate grains provide an alternative solution. Models of collisionally-heated dust emission from fast shocks ($>$ 1000 km s$^{-1}$) propagating into the CSM can reproduce the majority of the emission associated with non-radiative filaments, where dust temperatures are $\sim 80-100$ K, but fail to account for the highest temperatures detected, in excess of 150 K. We find that slower shocks (a few hundred km s$^{-1}$) into moderate density material ($n_{0} \sim 50-250$ cm$^{-3}$) are the only viable source of heating for this hottest dust. We confirm the finding of an overall density gradient, with densities in the north being an order of magnitude greater than those in the south.

The imprint of a symbiotic binary progenitor on the properties of Kepler’s supernova remnant

We present a model for the Type Ia supernova remnant (SNR) of SN 1604, also known as Kepler's SNR. We find that its main features can be explained by a progenitor model of a symbiotic binary consisting of a white dwarf and an AGB donor star with an initial mass of 4-5 M_sun. The slow, nitrogen rich wind emanating from the donor star has partially been accreted by the white dwarf, but has also created a circumstellar bubble. Based on observational evidence, we assume that the system moves with a velocity of 250 km/s. Due to the systemic motion the interaction between the wind and the interstellar medium has resulted in the formation of a bow shock, which can explain the presence of a one-sided, nitrogen rich shell. We present two-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations of both the shell formation and the SNR evolution. The SNR simulations show good agreement with the observed kinematic and morphological properties of Kepler's SNR. Specifically, the model reproduces the observed expansion parameters (m=V/(R/t)) of m=0.35 in the north and m=0.6 in the south of Kepler's SNR. We discuss the variations among our hydrodynamical simulations in light of the observations, and show that part of the blast wave may have traversed through the one-sided shell completely. The simulations suggest a distance to Kepler's SNR of 6 kpc, or otherwise require that SN 1604 was a sub-energetic Type Ia explosion. Finally, we discuss the possible implications of our model for Type Ia supernovae and their remnants in general.

Progenitor's Signatures in Type Ia Supernova Remnants

AbstractThe remnants of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) can provide important clues about their progenitor histories. We discuss two well-observed supernova remnants (SNRs) that are believed to have resulted from SNe Ia, and use various tools to shed light on the possible progenitor histories. We find that Kepler's SNR is consistent with a symbiotic binary progenitor consisting of a white dwarf and an AGB star. Our hydrosimulations can reproduce the observed kinematic and morphological properties. For Tycho's remnant we use the characteristics of the X-ray spectrum and kinematics to show that the ejecta has likely interacted with dense circumstellar gas.

THE CHANDRA ACIS SURVEY OF M33: X-RAY, OPTICAL, AND RADIO PROPERTIES OF THE SUPERNOVA REMNANTS

M33 contains a large number of emission nebulae identified as supernova remnants (SNRs) based on the high [S II]:Ha ratios characteristic of shocked gas. Using Chandra data from the ChASeM33 survey with a 0.35-2 keV sensitivity of about 2 x 10**34 ergs/s, we have detected 82 of 137 SNR candidates, yielding confirmation of (or at least strongly support for) their SNR identifications. This provides the largest sample of remnants detected at optical and X-ray wavelengths in any galaxy, including the Milky Way. A spectral analysis of the seven X-ray brightest SNRs reveals that two, G98-31 and G98-35, have spectra that appear to indicate enrichment by ejecta from core-collapse supernova explosions. In general, the X-ray detected SNRs have soft X-ray spectra compared to the vast majority of sources detected along the line of sight to M33. It is unlikely that there are any other undiscovered thermally dominated X-ray SNRs with luminosities in excess of about 4 x 10**35 ergs/s in the portions of M33 covered by the ChASeM33 survey. We have used a combination of new and archival optical and radio observations to attempt to better understand why some objects are detected as X-ray sources and others are not. We have also developed a morphological classification scheme for the optically-identified SNRs, and discuss the efficacy of this scheme as a predictor of X-ray detectability. Finally, we have compared the SNRs found in M33 to those that have been observed in the Galaxy and the Magellanic Clouds. There are no close analogs of Cas A, Kepler's SNR, Tycho's SNR or the Crab Nebula in the regions of M33 surveyed, but we have found an X-ray source with a power law spectrum coincident with a small-diameter radio source that may be the first pulsar-wind nebula recognized in M33.

Dust production in supernovae: the case of Kepler's SNR

AbstractWe compare the submillimetre (submm) emission with the Hi and CO distribution towards Kepler's supernova remnant (SNR), and conclude that 0.1 to 1.2 M⊙ of dust originates from Kepler. Such rates are sufficient to explain the origin of dust in high redshift galaxies.

Accounting for the foreground contribution to the dust emission towards Kepler's supernova remnant

Whether or not supernovae contribute significantly to the overall dust budget is a controversial subject. Submillimetre (submm) observations, sensitive to cold dust, have shown an excess at 450 and 850 microns in young remnants Cassiopeia A (Cas A) and Kepler. Some of the submm emission from Cas A has been shown to be contaminated by unrelated material along the line of sight. In this paper we explore the emission from material towards Kepler using submm continuum imaging and spectroscopic observations of atomic and molecular gas, via HI, 12CO (J=2-1) and 13CO (J=2-1). We detect weak CO emission (peak TA* = 0.2-1K, 1-2km/s fwhm) from diffuse, optically thin gas at the locations of some of the submm clumps. The contribution to the submm emission from foreground molecular and atomic clouds is negligible. The revised dust mass for Kepler's remnant is 0.1--1.2 solar masses, about half of the quoted values in the original study by Morgan et al. (2003), but still sufficient to explain the origin of dust at high redshifts.

Forward Shock Proper Motions of Kepler’s Supernova Remnant

The X-ray structure of Kepler's supernova remnant shows a rounded shape delineated by forward shocks. We measure proper motions of the forward shocks on overall rims of the remnant, by using archival Chandra data taken in two epochs with time difference of 6.09 yr. The proper motions of the forward shocks on the northern rim are measured to be 0.076'' (±0.032'' ±0.016'') to 0.11'' (±0.014'' ±0.016'') yr−1, while those on the rest of the rims are measured to be 0.15'' (±0.017'' ±0.016'') to 0.30'' (±0.048'' ±0.016'') yr−1; here the first-term errors are statistical uncertainties and the second-term errors are systematic uncertainties. Combining the best-estimated shock velocity of 1660 ± 120 km s−1 measured for Balmer-dominated filaments in the northern and central portions of the remnant (Sankrit et al. 2005) with the proper motions derived for the forward shocks on the northern rim, we estimate a distance of 3.3+1.6−0.4 kpc to the remnant. We measure the expansion indices, m (defined as R ∝ tm), to be 0.47-0.82 for most of the rims. These values are consistent with those expected in Type Ia SN explosion models, in which the ejecta and the circumstellar medium have power-law density profiles whose indices are 5-7 and 0-2, respectively. In addition, we should note the slower expansion on the northern rim than that on the southern rim. This is likely caused by the inhomogeneous circumstellar medium; the density of the circumstellar medium is higher in the north than that in the south of the remnant. The newly estimated geometric center, around which we believe the explosion point exists, is located at ~5'' offset to the north of the radio center.

HESS upper limits for Kepler's supernova remnant

Observations of Kepler's supernova remnant (G4.5+6.8) with the H.E.S.S. telescope array in 2004 and 2005 with a total live time of 13 h are presented. Stereoscopic imaging of Cherenkov radiation from extensive air showers is used to reconstruct the energy and direction of the incident gamma rays. No evidence for a very high energy (VHE: >100 GeV) gamma-ray signal from the direction of the remnant is found. An upper limit (99% confidence level) on the energy flux in the range 230 GeV - 12.8 TeV of 8.6 x 10^{-13} erg cm^{-2} s^{-1} is obtained. In the context of an existing theoretical model for the remnant, the lack of a detectable gamma-ray flux implies a distance of at least 6.4 kpc. A corresponding upper limit for the density of the ambient matter of 0.7 cm^{-3} is derived. With this distance limit, and assuming a spectral index Gamma = 2, the total energy in accelerated protons is limited to E_p < 8.6 x 10^{49} erg. In the synchrotron/inverse Compton framework, extrapolating the power law measured by RXTE between 10 and 20 keV down in energy, the predicted gamma-ray flux from inverse Compton scattering is below the measured upper limit for magnetic field values greater than 52 muG.

HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE/ADVANCED CAMERA FOR SURVEYS NARROWBAND IMAGING OF THE KEPLER SUPERNOVA REMNANT

We present narrowband images of the Kepler supernova remnant obtained with the Advanced Camera for Surveys aboard the Hubble Space Telescope. The images, with an angular resolution of 0.05'', reveal the structure of the emitting gas in unprecedented detail. Radiative and nonradiative shocks are found in close proximity, unresolvable in ground-based spectra, indicating that the pre-shock medium is highly clumped. The ionization structure, traced by differences in the [O III] to [N II] flux ratio, varies on subarcsecond scales. The variation is due to both differences in shock velocity and gradients in the evolutionary stage of the shocks. A prominent complex of knots protruding beyond the boundary of the remnant in the northwest is found to consist of bright radiative knots, connected by arcuate nonradiative filaments. Based on the coincidence of the optical emission with a bright isolated knot of X-ray emission, we infer that this feature is due to a Rayleigh-Taylor finger that formed at the contact discontinuity and overtook the primary blastwave.

Spitzer Space TelescopeObservations of Kepler’s Supernova Remnant: A Detailed Look at the Circumstellar Dust Component

We present 3.6 - 160 micron infrared images of Kepler's supernova remnant (SN1604) obtained with the IRAC and MIPS instruments on the Spitzer Space Telescope. We also present MIPS SED low resolution spectra in the 55 - 95 micron region. The observed emission in the MIPS 24 micron band shows the entire shell. Emission in the MIPS 70 micron and IRAC 8 micron bands is seen only from the brightest regions of 24 micron emission, which also correspond to the regions seen in optical Halpha images. Shorter wavelength IRAC images are increasingly dominated by stars, although faint filaments are discernible. The SED spectrum of shows a faint continuum dropping off to longer wavelengths and confirms that strong line emission does not dominate the mid-IR spectral region. The emission we see is due primarily to warm dust emission from dust heated by the primary blast wave; no excess infrared emission is observed in regions where supernova ejecta are seen in X-rays. We use models of the dust to interpret the observed 70/24 micron ratio and constrain the allowed range of temperatures and densities. We estimate the current mass of dust in the warm dust component to be 5.4 x 10^{-4} solar masses, and infer an original mass of about 3 x 10^{-3} solar masses before grain sputtering. The MIPS 160 micron band shows no emission belonging to the remnant. We place a conservative but temperature dependent upper limit on any cold dust component roughly a factor of 10 below the cold dust mass inferred from SCUBA observations. Finally, we comment on issues relevant to the possible precursor star and the supernova type.

Simulated X‐Ray Emission for a Runaway Model of Kepler's Supernova Remnant

We present two-dimensional numerical simulations of a model for Kepler's supernova remnant (SNR) carried out with the YGUAZU-A code. Following previous studies, we have assumed that the peculiar shape of this young remnant arises as a consequence of the interaction of the SNR blast wave with the bow shock formed by the wind of its high velocity progenitor. Furthermore, from our numerical results we have obtained synthetic X-ray emission maps, which can be directly compared with recent and previous observations of this SNR. Our models show that a nice fit with respect to the X-ray morphology and luminosity is obtained for a SN progenitor with mass-loss rate of 5 x 10(-5) M-circle dot yr(-1), an ambient medium density of 10(-2) cm(-3), an initial explosion energy of 8 x 10(50) ergs, and a total ejected mass within 1.4-2.5 M-circle dot. In our simulations, parameters typical of a young population progenitor have not been considered. This model also predicts a similar to 0.3% yearly decrease in the total X-ray luminosity, which is consistent with observed values. The parameters employed in our runs correspond to a Type Ia supernova. Based on our simulations, we find that the expansion rate increases after the SNR blast wave overruns the bow shock, and we discuss whether this can explain the observed difference between the expansion rates measured from sequences of radio and X-ray images. (Less)

Gamma-ray emission expected from Kepler's supernova remnant

Nonlinear kinetic theory of cosmic ray (CR) acceleration in supernova remnants (SNRs) is used to investigate the properties of Kepler's SNR and, in particular, to predict the gamma-ray spectrum expected from this SNR. Observations of the nonthermal radio and X-ray emission spectra as well as theoretical constraints for the total supernova (SN) explosion energy E_sn are used to constrain the astronomical and particle acceleration parameters of the system. Under the assumption that Kepler's SN is a type Ia SN we determine for any given explosion energy E_sn and source distance d the mass density of the ambient interstellar medium (ISM) from a fit to the observed SNR size and expansion speed. This makes it possible to make predictions for the expected gamma-ray flux. Exploring the expected distance range we find that for a typical explosion energy E_sn=10^51 erg the expected energy flux of TeV gamma-rays varies from 2x10^{-11} to 10^{-13} erg/(cm^2 s) when the distance changes from d=3.4 kpc to 7 kpc. In all cases the gamma-ray emission is dominated by \pi^0-decay gamma-rays due to nuclear CRs. Therefore Kepler's SNR represents a very promising target for instruments like H.E.S.S., CANGAROO and GLAST. A non-detection of gamma-rays would mean that the actual source distance is larger than 7 kpc.