CGRO/OSSE Observations of the Cassiopeia A Supernova Remnant
Abstract
Cassipeia A, the youngest known supernova remnant in the Galaxy and a strong radio and X-ray source, was observed by OSSE 1992 July 16-August 6. Its close distance (approximately 3 kpc) and its young age (approximately 300 yr) make Cas A the best candidate among known supernova remnants for detecting Ti-44 gamma-ray lines. We find no evidence of emission at 67.9 keV, 78.4 keV, or 1.157 MeV, the three strongest Ti-44 decay lines. From simultaneous fits to the three lines our 99% confidence upper limit to the flux in each line is 5.5 x 10-5 gamma/sq cm s. We also report upper limits for the 4.44 MeV C-12 nuclear de-excitation line, which could be produced by interactions of acclerated particles in the supernova remnant, and for the hard X-ray continuum.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- May 1995
- DOI:
- 10.1086/175600
- Bibcode:
- 1995ApJ...444..244T
- Keywords:
-
- Emission Spectra;
- Gamma Ray Astronomy;
- Gamma Ray Spectra;
- Milky Way Galaxy;
- Stellar Spectra;
- Supernova Remnants;
- Abundance;
- Carbon;
- Gamma Ray Observatory;
- Nuclear Fusion;
- Particle Interactions;
- Titanium;
- Astronomy;
- GAMMA RAYS: OBSERVATIONS;
- ISM: INDIVIDUAL NAME: CASSIOPEIA A;
- ISM: SUPERNOVA REMNANTS;
- NUCLEAR REACTIONS;
- NUCLEOSYNTHESIS;
- ABUNDANCES