[Previous] | [Session 32] | [Next]

[32.03] X-ray Synchrotron Radiation in the Forward Shock of Cassiopeia A

F. Berendse (Univ. of MD & NASA GSFC), R. Petre, S.S. Holt (NASA GSFC), U. Hwang (Univ. of MD & NASA GSFC)

We present high spatial resolution spectra of the forward shock of Cassiopeia A from a 50,000 s observation obtained by the Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer on board the Chandra X-ray Observatory. We systematically compare the ionization conditions of the shocked plasma in different regions along the forward shock. Single-component non-equilibrium ionization models do not provide good fits to the spectra-- possibly indicating the presence of a synchrotron component. We provide an estimate of the synchrotron flux present in the forward shock and discuss alternative models.