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Resolution of the 1,238-keV γ-ray line from supernova 1987A

Nature volume 339, pages 122–123 (1989)Cite this article

Abstract

WE report observations of supernova 1987A from the maiden flight of the Gamma-Ray Imaging Spectrometer (GRIS). SN1987A was observed for a period of 11.1 hours on 1 May 1988. Line emission at 1,238 keV and continuum emission (to be reported elsewhere) from 60 to 800 keV were detected1. A gaussian line profile gives an acceptable fit to the 1,238-keV line. The best-fit parameters are: flux = 8.5 (+2.3,−2.2) x 10−4 photons cm−2 s−1 ; peak energy = 1,235.4 (+2.2, −2.4) keV; full width at half maximum = 16.3 (+6.1,−5.7)keV. As the 1,238-keV line is redshifted by 1.1 keV because of the motion of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), we find no evidence for a supernova-produced red- or blueshift in the 1,238-keV line. This is to be compared with model-predicted blueshifts (in the frame of the LMC) of typically 3–4 keV (refs 2–4). Furthermore, our measured linewidfh is a factor of about two greater than the model predictions, although the discrepancy represents only two standard deviations. Our line profiles are characteristic of optically thin regions, whereas the intensity implies a mean optical depth of about 2. Fragmentation or non-spherical geometry of the supernova shell are possible explanations of the data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, 20771, USA

    B. J. Teegarden, S. D. Barthelmy, N. Gehrels & J. Tueller

  2. AT&T /Bell Laboratories, 600 Mountain Avenue, Murray Hill, New Jersey, 07974, USA

    M. Leventhal

  3. Sandia National Laboratories, Organization 1200, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87185, USA

    C. J. MacCallum

Authors
  1. B. J. Teegarden
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  2. S. D. Barthelmy
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  3. N. Gehrels
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  4. J. Tueller
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  5. M. Leventhal
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  6. C. J. MacCallum
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Teegarden, B., Barthelmy, S., Gehrels, N. et al. Resolution of the 1,238-keV γ-ray line from supernova 1987A. Nature 339, 122–123 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1038/339122a0

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