[Previous] | [Session 39] | [Next]
R. J. Rudy, D. K. Lynch, S. M. Mazuk, C. C. Venturini (Aerospace Corp.), R. C. Puetter (UCSD/CASS), P. Hoeflich (U. of Texas), T. K. Armstrong (TKA Development Corp.)
We present 0.8 to 2.5 micron spectra of the Type Ia supernova 2000cx from 8 and 7 days before maximum light. The spectra are similar to those of other type Ia SNe observed shortly after outburst in the infrared in that the continuum shape follows that of a hot blackbody upon which is superposed a small number of absorption features. The most prominent of these absorptions is due to the Mg II multiplet centered at 1.0926 microns (rest frame), but Ca II with a P-Cygni-like profile at ~ 1.2 microns, and a weak broad Si II feature at ~ 1.65 microns are also present. There is no evidence of the He I singlet at 2.0581 microns. Velocities in the Mg II feature extend to about 20,000 km/sec indicating that carbon burning reached the outermost layers of the progenitor. The observations were obtained at the University of California's Lick Observatory using The Aerospace Corporation's Near-Infrared Imaging Spectrograph.
Support for this research was provided by The Aerospace Corporation's Internal Research and Development and MOIE Programs, and by NASA.