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arXiv · 1212.4534

X-ray Emission from Strongly Asymmetric Circumstellar Material in the Remnant of Kepler's Supernova

Mary T. Burkey·Stephen P. Reynolds·Kazimierz J. Borkowski·John M. Blondin
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Abstract

Kepler's supernova remnant resulted from a thermonuclear explosion, but is interacting with circumstellar material (CSM) lost from the progenitor system. We describe a statistical technique for isolating X-ray emission due to CSM from that due to shocked ejecta. Shocked CSM coincides well in position with 24 $\mu$m emission seen by {\sl Spitzer}. We find most CSM to be distributed along the bright north rim, but substantial concentrations are also found projected against the center of the remnant, roughly along a diameter with position angle $\sim 100^\circ$. We interpret this as evidence for a disk distribution of CSM before the SN, with the line of sight to the observer roughly in the disk plane. We present 2-D hydrodynamic simulations of this scenario, in qualitative agreement with the observed CSM morphology. Our observations require Kepler to have originated in a close binary system with an AGB star companion.

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Mary T. Burkey, Stephen P. Reynolds, Kazimierz J. Borkowski, John M. Blondin. 2012-12-18. X-ray Emission from Strongly Asymmetric Circumstellar Material in the Remnant of Kepler's Supernova. https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637x/764/1/63

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