Shock Velocities in Kepler's Supernova Remnant, and Spectra of Progenitor-Companion Candidates
Abstract
Kepler's SNR is the product of a Type Ia explosion (SN1604). Unlike Tycho or SN1006, the blast wave around Kepler's SNR is interacting with circumstellar material, which makes it the most likely example of a Type Ia supernova from a single degenerate channel. Unfortunately, the distance to Kepler is poorly determined, and an exhaustive search for the companion to the supernova progenitor has never been conducted. We have recently obtained second epoch HST images that have allowed us to accurately measure the proper motion of the Balmer filaments tracing the shock front in Kepler. We propose to obtain spectra of these filaments with GMOS on Gemini-S to measure the H(alpha) line widths, and thereby determine the shock velocities at each position. The shock velocities and the proper motions will provide an accurate distance to Kepler's SNR. We also propose to observe and characterize all the stars near the explosion center that have magnitudes less than V~21. If Kepler formed via the single degenerate channel, then our sample will include essentially all plausible companion stars brighter than white dwarfs.
- Publication:
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NOAO Proposal
- Pub Date:
- February 2014
- Bibcode:
- 2014noao.prop..269S