AAS 201st Meeting, January, 2003
Session 87. Radio and X-Ray SNRs
Poster, Wednesday, January 8, 2003, 9:20am-6:30pm, Exhibit Hall AB

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[87.09U] X-ray Studies of Radioactivity in the Tycho and Cas A SNR

W.T. Ryle (Western Kentucky University), M.D. Leising (Clemson University)

A direct method for tracing isotopic abundances created through supernovae involves the measure of X-ray lines from radioactive isotopes formed in a supernova explosion. These X-rays originate from electron vacancies created by the electron-capture decay of proton rich isotopes produced in the supernova explosions. We use Chandra X-ray Observatory data to search for the lines from the decay of 59Ni and 44Ti isotopes in the Tycho supernova remnant (SNR) and the Cas A SNR, respectively. Using CIAO data analysis software, we determine only upper limits for the fluxes of the 6.90 keV 59Ni line and 4.09 keV 44Ti line, as we find no significant flux in either line. We present the limits obtained, which are consistent with theoretical estimates, and argue that these justify further observations of both SNR’s with current X-ray observatories.

This work was supported by the National Science Foundation through grant AST-0097616 for the SARA Research Experiences for Undergraduates program, and by NASA NAG 5-10764.


The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address for comments about the abstract: rylewt@wku.edu

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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 34, #4
© 2002. The American Astronomical Soceity.