Dust Formation and Light Echoes Around Core Collapse Supernovae
Abstract
The importance of core collapse supernovae (CCSNe) in the dust budget of the universe is still poorly understood. Recent discoveries of massive amounts of cool dust in SN 1987A and the Crab nebula have once again brought this debate to the forefront. We are proposing to continue observations of 7 CCSNe (SNe 1980K, 2002hh, 2008S, 2004et, 2010jl, 2011ja, and 2012aw) with Spitzer as part of our multi-wavelength campaign to both classify and quantify newly condensed dust in the SN ejecta as well as to accurately map out pre-existing circumstellar dust in light echoes. The proposed observations will be combined with previous epochs of Spitzer data and coordinated with other approved and proposed ground and space based observations with Gemini, and HST. We may be able to increase the small sample of CCSNe that show conclusive evidence of dust formation, as well as constrain pre-existing progenitor dust creation by studying the IR echoes around the older SNe. Measuring the location and mass of the dust around a SN, while the dust is still warm, is essential in deciphering the origin of the large masses of cold dust that have been discovered in nearby SN remnants, which is critical to understand the role of CCSNe as dust producers in the early universe.
- Publication:
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Spitzer Proposal
- Pub Date:
- December 2012
- Bibcode:
- 2012sptz.prop90178A