Sn 1993j vlbi. Ii. Related changes of the deceleration, flux density decay, and spectrum
Academic Article
Publication Date:
2002
abstract:
Phase-referenced multifrequency VLBI observations of supernova 1993J in the
nearby galaxy M81 at 34 epochs from t=30 to ~3000 days after shock breakout
show the detailed characteristics of the non-self-similar expansion. For
the first year, the supernova expanded almost freely, with the outer radius
of the radio shell ro~tm(t) and m(t)=0.919+/-0.019. During the following 4
years the deceleration grew to m(t)=0.781+/-0.009, the expansion velocity
slowed down by about half from originally v0~17,200 km s-1 to just ~8900 km
s-1, and the supernova swept up a mass of ~0.3 Msolar. Momentum
conservation suggests that this mass is about equal to the mass of the
shocked ejecta, likely composed of all the low-mass envelope of the
progenitor left over after mass transfer to a purported binary companion,
therefore supporting the binary scenario. Subsequently the deceleration
changed again, this time decreasing to m(t)=0.860+/-0.011 from t=5 to 8 yr,
consistent with hydrodynamic simulations. This late upturn of m(t) may be
caused by the massive inner ejecta, which have reached the increasingly
decelerated shocked ejecta, passing now through the reverse shock and
pushing the low-mass envelope. This upturn of m(t) is mirrored by changes
in the slope of the radio light curves and a flattening of the radio
spectra, all consistent with power laws, with spectral indices changing
from ?=-0.85+/-0.03 to -0.64+/-0.03. The magnetic field in the radio shell
region is inferred to decrease from originally ~r-0.99o to ~r-1.45o toward
the end of our observations. After 7 years the radio light curves start to
drop rapidly, suggesting that the supernova is now expanding into a zone of
the circumstellar medium with a steep density profile.
Iris type:
01.01 Articolo in rivista