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Near-Infrared and Optical Limits for the Central X-ray Point Source in the Cassiopeia A Supernova Remnant

R. A. Fesen·G. G. Pavlov·D. Sanwal
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Abstract

Near-infrared images of the center of the Cas A supernova remnant taken with the NICMOS 2 camera on HST using the F110W and F160W filters (~J & ~H bands) have magnitude limits of 26.2 and 24.6 respectively, but reveal no sources within a 1.2" radius of the Chandra detected central X-ray point source (XPS). The NICMOS data, taken together with broadband optical magnitude limits (R ~ 28 mag) obtained from a deep STIS CCD exposure taken with a clear filter (50CCD), indicate that the XPS luminosities are very low in the optical/NIR bands (e.g., L_H < 3 x E29 erg/s) with no optical, J, or H band counterpart to the XPS easily detectable by HST. We discuss the nature of the Cas A central compact object based upon these new near-infrared and optical flux limits.

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R. A. Fesen, G. G. Pavlov, D. Sanwal. 2005-09-19. Near-Infrared and Optical Limits for the Central X-ray Point Source in the Cassiopeia A Supernova Remnant. https://doi.org/10.1086/498087

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