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W. T. Reach

Publications and source records attributed to W. T. Reach.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Herschel Inventory of The Agents of Galaxy Evolution (HERITAGE): the Large Magellanic Cloud dust

The HERschel Inventory of The Agents of Galaxy Evolution (HERITAGE) of the Magellanic Clouds will use dust emission to investigate the life cycle of matter in both the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds (LMC and SMC). Using the Herschel Space Observatory's PACS and SPIRE photometry cameras, we imaged a 2x8 square degree strip through the LMC, at a position angle of ~22.5 degrees as part of the science demonstration phase of the Herschel mission. We present the data in all 5 Herschel bands: PACS 100 and 160 μm and SPIRE 250, 350 and 500 μm. We present two dust models that both adequately fit the spectral energy distribution for the entire strip and both reveal that the SPIRE 500 μm emission is in excess of the models by 6 to 17%. The SPIRE emission follows the distribution of the dust mass, which is derived from the model. The PAH-to-dust mass (f_PAH) image of the strip reveals a possible enhancement in the LMC bar in agreement with previous work. We compare the gas mass distribution derived from the HI 21 cm and CO J=1-0 line emission maps to the dust mass map from the models and derive gas-to-dust mass ratios (GDRs). The dust model, which uses the standard graphite and silicate optical properties for Galactic dust, has a very low GDR = 65(+15,-18) making it an unrealistic dust model for the LMC. Our second dust model, which uses amorphous carbon instead of graphite, has a flatter emissivity index in the submillimeter and results in a GDR = 287(+25,-42) that is more consistent with a GDR inferred from extinction.

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Cold dust clumps in dynamically hot gas

We present clumps of dust emission from Herschel observations of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and their physical and statistical properties. We catalog cloud features seen in the dust emission from Herschel observations of the LMC, the Magellanic type irregular galaxy closest to the Milky Way, and compare these features with HI catalogs from the ATCA+Parkes HI survey. Using an automated cloud-finding algorithm, we identify clouds and clumps of dust emission and examine the cumulative mass distribution of the detected dust clouds. The mass of cold dust is determined from physical parameters that we derive by performing spectral energy distribution fits to 250, 350, and 500 micronm emission from SPIRE observations using DUSTY and GRASIL radiative transfer calculation with dust grain size distributions for graphite/silicate in low-metallicity extragalactic environments. The dust cloud mass spectrum follows a power law distribution with an exponent of gamma=-1.8 for clumps larger than 400 solar mass and is similar to the HI mass distribution. This is expected from the theory of ISM structure in the vicinity of star formation.

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Clouds, filaments and protostars: the Herschel Hi-GAL Milky Way

We present the first results from the science demonstration phase for the Hi-GAL survey, the Herschel key-project that will map the inner Galactic Plane of the Milky Way in 5 bands. We outline our data reduction strategy and present some science highlights on the two observed 2° x 2° tiles approximately centered at l=30° and l=59°. The two regions are extremely rich in intense and highly structured extended emission which shows a widespread organization in filaments. Source SEDs can be built for hundreds of objects in the two fields, and physical parameters can be extracted, for a good fraction of them where the distance could be estimated. The compact sources (which we will call 'cores' in the following) are found for the most part to be associated with the filaments, and the relationship to the local beam-averaged column density of the filament itself shows that a core seems to appear when a threshold around A_V of about 1 is exceeded for the regions in the l=59° field; a A_V value between 5 and 10 is found for the l=30° field, likely due to the relatively larger distances of the sources. This outlines an exciting scenario where diffuse clouds first collapse into filaments, which later fragment to cores where the column density has reached a critical level. In spite of core L/M ratios being well in excess of a few for many sources, we find core surface densities between 0.03 and 0.5 g cm-2. Our results are in good agreement with recent MHD numerical simulations of filaments forming from large-scale converging flows.

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Dust in the bright supernova remnant N49 in the LMC

We investigate the dust associated with the supernova remnant (SNR) N49 in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) as observed with the Herschel Space Observatory. N49 is unusually bright because of an interaction with a molecular cloud along its eastern edge. We have used PACS and SPIRE to measure the far IR flux densities of the entire SNR and of a bright region on the eastern edge of the SNR where the SNR shock is encountering the molecular cloud. Using these fluxes supplemented with archival data at shorter wavelengths, we estimate the dust mass associated with N49 to be about 10 Msun. The bulk of the dust in our simple two-component model has a temperature of 20-30 K, similar to that of nearby molecular clouds. Unfortunately, as a result of the limited angular resolution of Herschel at the wavelengths sampled with SPIRE, the uncertainties are fairly large. Assuming this estimate of the dust mass associated with the SNR is approximately correct, it is probable that most of the dust in the SNR arises from regions where the shock speed is too low to produce significant X-ray emission. The total amount of warm 50-60 K dust is ~0.1 or 0.4 Msun, depending on whether the dust is modeled in terms of carbonaceous or silicate grains. This provides a firm lower limit to the amount of shock heated dust in N49.

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Determining dust temperatures and masses in the Herschel era: the importance of observations longward of 200 micron

The properties of the dust grains (e.g., temperature and mass) can be derived from fitting far-IR SEDs (>100 micron). Only with SPIRE on Herschel has it been possible to get high spatial resolution at 200 to 500 micron that is beyond the peak (~160 micron) of dust emission in most galaxies. We investigate the differences in the fitted dust temperatures and masses determined using only <200 micron data and then also including >200 micron data (new SPIRE observations) to determine how important having >200 micron data is for deriving these dust properties. We fit the 100 to 350 micron observations of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) point-by-point with a model that consists of a single temperature and fixed emissivity law. The data used are existing observations at 100 and 160 micron (from IRAS and Spitzer) and new SPIRE observations of 1/4 of the LMC observed for the HERITAGE Key Project as part of the Herschel Science Demonstration phase. The dust temperatures and masses computed using only 100 and 160 micron data can differ by up to 10% and 36%, respectively, from those that also include the SPIRE 250 & 350 micron data. We find that an emissivity law proportional to lambda^-1.5 minimizes the 100-350 micron fractional residuals. We find that the emission at 500 micron is ~10% higher than expected from extrapolating the fits made at shorter wavelengths. We find the fractional 500 micron excess is weakly anti-correlated with MIPS 24 micron flux and the total gas surface density. This argues against a flux calibration error as the origin of the 500 micron excess. Our results do not allow us to distinguish between a systematic variation in the wavelength dependent emissivity law or a population of very cold dust only detectable at lambda > 500 micron for the origin of the 500 micron excess.

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Physical Properties of Giant Molecular Clouds in the Large Magellanic Cloud

The Magellanic Mopra Assessment (MAGMA) is a high angular resolution CO mapping survey of giant molecular clouds (GMCs) in the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds using the Mopra Telescope. Here we report on the basic physical properties of 125 GMCs in the LMC that have been surveyed to date. The observed clouds exhibit scaling relations that are similar to those determined for Galactic GMCs, although LMC clouds have narrower linewidths and lower CO luminosities than Galactic clouds of a similar size. The average mass surface density of the LMC clouds is 50 Msol/pc2, approximately half that of GMCs in the inner Milky Way. We compare the properties of GMCs with and without signs of massive star formation, finding that non-star-forming GMCs have lower peak CO brightness than star-forming GMCs. We compare the properties of GMCs with estimates for local interstellar conditions: specifically, we investigate the HI column density, radiation field, stellar mass surface density and the external pressure. Very few cloud properties demonstrate a clear dependence on the environment; the exceptions are significant positive correlations between i) the HI column density and the GMC velocity dispersion, ii) the stellar mass surface density and the average peak CO brightness, and iii) the stellar mass surface density and the CO surface brightness. The molecular mass surface density of GMCs without signs of massive star formation shows no dependence on the local radiation field, which is inconsistent with the photoionization-regulated star formation theory proposed by McKee (1989). We find some evidence that the mass surface density of the MAGMA clouds increases with the interstellar pressure, as proposed by Elmegreen (1989), but the detailed predictions of this model are not fulfilled once estimates for the local radiation field, metallicity and GMC envelope mass are taken into account.

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The SAGE-Spec Spitzer Legacy program: The life-cycle of dust and gas in the Large Magellanic Cloud

The SAGE-Spec Spitzer Legacy program is a spectroscopic follow-up to the SAGE-LMC photometric survey of the Large Magellanic Cloud carried out with the Spitzer Space Telescope. We present an overview of SAGE-Spec and some of its first results. The SAGE-Spec program aims to study the life cycle of gas and dust in the Large Magellanic Cloud, and to provide information essential to the classification of the point sources observed in the earlier SAGE-LMC photometric survey. We acquired 224.6 hours of observations using the InfraRed Spectrograph and the SED mode of the Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer. The SAGE-Spec data, along with archival Spitzer spectroscopy of objects in the Large Magellanic Cloud, are reduced and delivered to the community. We discuss the observing strategy, the specific data reduction pipelines applied and the dissemination of data products to the scientific community. Initial science results include the first detection of an extragalactic "21 um" feature towards an evolved star and elucidation of the nature of disks around RV Tauri stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Towards some young stars, ice features are observed in absorption. We also serendipitously observed a background quasar, at a redshift of z~0.14, which appears to be host-less.

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Powerful H$_2$ Line-cooling in Stephan's Quintet : I - Mapping the Significant Cooling Pathways in Group-wide Shocks

We present results from the mid-infrared spectral mapping of Stephan's Quintet using the Spitzer Space Telescope. A 1000 km/s collision has produced a group-wide shock and for the first time the large-scale distribution of warm molecular hydrogen emission is revealed, as well as its close association with known shock structures. In the main shock region alone we find 5.0 $\times10^{8}$ M$_{\odot}$ of warm H$_2$ spread over $\sim$ 480 kpc$^2$ and additionally report the discovery of a second major shock-excited H$_2$ feature. This brings the total H$_2$ line luminosity of the group in excess of 10$^42$ erg/s. In the main shock, the H$_2$ line luminosity exceeds, by a factor of three, the X-ray luminosity from the hot shocked gas, confirming that the H$_2$-cooling pathway dominates over the X-ray. [Si II]34.82$μ$m emission, detected at a luminosity of 1/10th of that of the H$_2$, appears to trace the group-wide shock closely and in addition, we detect weak [FeII]25.99$μ$m emission from the most X-ray luminous part of the shock. Comparison with shock models reveals that this emission is consistent with regions of fast shocks (100 < $V_{s}$ < 300 km/s) experiencing depletion of iron and silicon onto dust grains. Star formation in the shock (as traced via ionic lines, PAH and dust emission) appears in the intruder galaxy, but most strikingly at either end of the radio shock. The shock ridge itself shows little star formation, consistent with a model in which the tremendous H$_{2}$ power is driven by turbulent energy transfer from motions in a post-shocked layer. The significance of the molecular hydrogen lines over other measured sources of cooling in fast galaxy-scale shocks may have crucial implications for the cooling of gas in the assembly of the first galaxies.

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Exclusion of Tiny Interstellar Dust Grains from the Heliosphere

The distribution of interstellar dust grains (ISDG) observed in the Solar System depends on the nature of the interstellar medium-solar wind interaction. The charge of the grains couples them to the interstellar magnetic field (ISMF) resulting in some fraction of grains being excluded from the heliosphere while grains on the larger end of the size distribution, with gyroradii comparable to the size of the heliosphere, penetrate the termination shock. This results in a skewing the size distribution detected in the Solar System. We present new calculations of grain trajectories and the resultant grain density distribution for small ISDGs propagating through the heliosphere. We make use of detailed heliosphere model results, using three-dimensional (3-D) magnetohydrodynamic/kinetic models designed to match data on the shape of the termination shock and the relative deflection of interstellar neutral H and He flowing into the heliosphere. We find that the necessary inclination of the ISMF relative to the inflow direction results in an asymmetry in the distribution of the larger grains (0.1 micron) that penetrate the heliopause. Smaller grains (0.01 micron) are completely excluded from the Solar System at the heliopause.

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Spitzer observations of the asteroid-comet transition object and potential spacecraft target 107P (4015) Wilson-Harrington

Context. Near-Earth asteroid-comet transition object 107P/ (4015) Wilson-Harrington is a possible target of the joint European Space Agency (ESA) and Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Marco Polo sample return mission. Physical studies of this object are relevant to this mission, and also to understanding its asteroidal or cometary nature. Aims. Our aim is to obtain significant new constraints on the surface thermal properties of this object. Methods. We present mid-infrared photometry in two filters (16 and 22 microns) obtained with NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope on February 12, 2007, and results from the application of the Near Earth Asteroid Thermal Model (NEATM).We obtained high S/N in two mid-IR bands allowing accurate measurements of its thermal emission. Results. We obtain a well constrained beaming parameter (eta = 1.39 +/- 0.26) and obtain a diameter and geometric albedo of D = 3.46 +/- 0.32 km, and pV = 0.059 +/- 0.011. We also obtain similar results when we apply this best-fitting thermal model to single-band mid-IR photometry reported by Campins et al. (1995), Kraemer et al. (2005) and Reach et al. (2007). Conclusions. The albedo of 4015 Wilson-Harrington is low, consistent with those of comet nuclei and primitive C-, P-, D-type asteorids. We establish a rough lower limit for the thermal inertia of W-H of 60 Jm^-2s^(-0.5)K^-1 when it is at r=1AU, which is slightly over the limit of 30 Jm^-2s^(-0.5)K-1 derived by Groussin et al. (2009) for the thermal inertia of the nucleus of comet 22P/Kopff.

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Spitzer Space Telescope Observations of the Nucleus of Comet 103P/Hartley 2

We have used the Spitzer 22-um peakup array to observe thermal emission from the nucleus and trail of comet 103P/Hartley 2, the target of NASA's Deep Impact Extended mission. The comet was observed on UT 2008 August 12 and 13, while the comet was 5.5 AU from the Sun. We obtained two 200-frame sets of photometric imaging over a 2.7-hour period. To within the errors of the measurement, we find no detection of any temporal variation between the two images. The comet showed extended emission beyond a point source in the form of a faint trail directed along the comet's anti-velocity vector. After modeling and removing the trail emission, a NEATM model for the nuclear emission with beaming parameter of 0.95 +/- 0.20 indicates a small effective radius for the nucleus of 0.57 +/- 0.08 km and low geometric albedo 0.028 +/- 0.009 (1 sigma). With this nucleus size and a water production rate of 3 x 10^28 molecules s-1 at perihelion (A'Hearn et al. 1995) we estimate that ~100% of the surface area is actively emitting volatile material at perihelion. Reports of emission activity out to ~5 AU (Lowry et al. 2001, Snodgrass et al. 2008) support our finding of a highly active nuclear surface. Compared to Deep Impact's first target, comet 9P/Tempel 1, Hartley 2's nucleus is one-fifth as wide (and about one-hundredth the mass) while producing a similar amount of outgassing at perihelion with about 13 times the active surface fraction. Unlike Tempel 1, it should be highly susceptible to jet driven spin-up torques, and so could be rotating at a much higher frequency. Barring a catastrophic breakup or major fragmentation event, the comet should be able to survive up to another 100 apparitions (~700 yrs) at its current rate of mass loss.

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Dust Formation in the young core-collapse supernova remnant E0102

We present Spitzer IRS and IRAC observations of the young supernova remnant E0102 (SNR 1E0102.2-7219) in the Small Magellanic Cloud. The infrared spectra show strong ejecta lines of Ne and O, with the [Ne II] line at 12.8 microns having a large velocity dispersion of 2,000-4,500 km/s indicative of fast-moving ejecta. Unlike the young Galactic SNR Cas A, E0102 lacks emission from Ar and Fe. Diagnostics of the observed [Ne III] line pairs imply that [Ne III] emitting ejecta have a low temperature of 650 K, while [Ne V] line pairs imply that the infrared [Ne V] emitting ejecta have a high density of ~10^4/cm3. We have calculated radiative shock models for various velocity ranges including the effects of photoionization. The shock model indicates that the [Ne V] lines come mainly from the cooling zone, which is hot and dense, whereas [Ne II] and [Ne III] come mainly from the photoinization zone, which has a low temperature of 400-1000 K. We estimate an infrared emitting Ne ejecta mass of 0.04 Msun from the infrared observations, and discuss implications for the progenitor mass. The spectra also have a dust continuum feature peaking at 18 microns that coincides spatially with the ejecta, providing evidence that dust formed in the expanding ejecta. The 18-micron-peak dust feature is fitted by a mixture of MgSiO3 and Si dust grains, while the rest of the continuum requires either carbon or Al2O3 grains. We measure the total dust mass formed within the ejecta of E0102 to be ~0.014 Msun. The dust mass in E0102 is thus a factor of a few smaller than that in Cas A. The composition of the dust is also different, showing relatively less silicate and likely no Fe-bearing dust, as is suggested by the absence of Fe-emitting ejecta.

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Carbon Monoxide in the Cassiopeia A Supernova Remnant

We report the likely detection of near-infrared 2.29 $μ$m first overtone Carbon Monoxide (CO) emission from the young supernova remnant Cassiopeia A (Cas A). The continuum-subtracted CO filter map reveals CO knots within the ejecta-rich reverse shock. We compare the first overtone CO emission with that found in the well-studied supernova, SN 1987A and find $\sim$30 times less CO in Cas A. The presence of CO suggests that molecule mixing is small in the SN ejecta and that astrochemical processes and molecule formation may continue at least ~300 years after the initial explosion.

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Dust Formation Observed in Young Supernova Remnants with Spitzer

We present dust features and masses observed in young supernova remnants (SNRs) with Spitzer IRS mapping and staring observations of four youngest supernova remnants: SNR 1E102.2-7219 (E0102) in the SMC, Cas A and G11.2-0.3 in our Galaxy, and N132D in the LMC. The spectral mapping data revealed a number of dust features which include 21 micron-peak dust and featureless dust in Cas A and 18-micron peak dust in E0102 and N132D. The 18 micron-peak feature is fitted by a mix of MgSiO$_3$ and solid Si dust grains, while the 21-micron peak dust is by a mix of silicates and FeO; we also explore dust fitting using Continuous Distribution of Ellipsoid grain models. We report detection of CO fundamental band from Cas A in near-infrared. We review dust features observed and identified in other SNRs. The dust emission is spatially correlated with the ejecta emission, showing dust is formed in SN ejecta. The spectra of E0102 show rich gas lines from ejecta including strong ejecta lines of Ne and O, including two [Ne III] lines and two [Ne V] lines which allow us to diagnostic density and temperature of the ejecta and measure the ejecta masses. E0102 and N132D show weak or lacking Ar, Si, and Fe ejecta, whereas the young Galactic SNR Cas A show strong Ar, Si, and S and weak Fe. We discuss compositions and masses of dust and association with those of ejecta and finally, dust contribution from SNe to early Universe.

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Freshly Formed Dust in the Cassiopeia A Supernova Remnant as Revealed by the Spitzer Space Telescope

We performed Spitzer Infrared Spectrograph mapping observations covering nearly the entire extent of the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant (SNR), producing mid-infrared (5.5-35 micron) spectra every 5-10". Gas lines of Ar, Ne, O, Si, S and Fe, and dust continua were strong for most positions. We identify three distinct ejecta dust populations based on their continuum shapes. The dominant dust continuum shape exhibits a strong peak at 21 micron. A line-free map of 21 micron-peak dust made from the 19-23 micron range closely resembles the [Ar II], [O IV], and [Ne II] ejecta-line maps implying that dust is freshly formed in the ejecta. Spectral fitting implies the presence of SiO2, Mg protosilicates, and FeO grains in these regions. The second dust type exhibits a rising continuum up to 21 micron and then flattens thereafter. This ``weak 21 micron'' dust is likely composed of Al2O3 and C grains. The third dust continuum shape is featureless with a gently rising spectrum and is likely composed of MgSiO3 and either Al2O3 or Fe grains. Using the least massive composition for each of the three dust classes yields a total mass of 0.02 Msun. Using the most-massive composition yields a total mass of 0.054 Msun. The primary uncertainty in the total dust mass stems from the selection of the dust composition necessary for fitting the featureless dust as well as 70 micron flux. The freshly formed dust mass derived from Cas A is sufficient from SNe to explain the lower limit on the dust masses in high redshift galaxies.

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Aromatic emission from the ionised mane of the Horsehead nebula

We study the evolution of the Aromatic Infrared Bands (AIBs) emitters across the illuminated edge of the Horsehead nebula and especially their survival and properties in the HII region. We present spectral mapping observations taken with the Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) at wavelengths 5.2-38 microns. A strong AIB at 11.3 microns is detected in the HII region, relative to the other AIBs at 6.2, 7.7 and 8.6 microns. The intensity of this band appears to be correlated with the intensity of the [NeII] at 12.8 microns and of Halpha, which shows that the emitters of the 11.3 microns band are located in the ionised gas. The survival of PAHs in the HII region could be due to the moderate intensity of the radiation field (G0 about 100) and the lack of photons with energy above about 25eV. The enhancement of the intensity of the 11.3 microns band in the HII region, relative to the other AIBs can be explained by the presence of neutral PAHs. Our observations highlight a transition region between ionised and neutral PAHs observed with ideal conditions in our Galaxy. A scenario where PAHs can survive in HII regions and be significantly neutral could explain the detection of a prominent 11.3 microns band in other Spitzer observations.

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First Space-Based Microlens Parallax Measurement: Spitzer Observations of OGLE-2005-SMC-001

We combine Spitzer and ground-based observations to measure the microlens parallax of OGLE-2005-SMC-001, the first such space-based determination since S. Refsdal proposed the idea in 1966. The parallax measurement yields a projected velocity \tilde v ~ 230 km/s, the typical value expected for halo lenses, but an order of magnitude smaller than would be expected for lenses lying in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) itself. The lens is a weak (i.e., non-caustic-crossing) binary, which complicates the analysis considerably but ultimately contributes additional constraints. Using a test proposed by Assef et al. (2006), which makes use only of kinematic information about different populations but does not make any assumptions about their respective mass functions, we find that the likelihood ratio is L_halo/L_SMC = 20. Hence, halo lenses are strongly favored but SMC lenses are not definitively ruled out. Similar Spitzer observations of additional lenses toward the Magellanic Clouds would clarify the nature of the lens population. The Space Interferometry Mission could make even more constraining measurements.

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Spitzer IRAC Images and Sample Spectra of Cassiopeia A's Explosion

We present Spitzer IRAC images, along with representative 5.27 to 38.5 micron IRS spectra of the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant. We find that various IRAC channels are each most sensitive to a different spectral and physical component. Channel 1 (3.6 micron) matches radio synchrotron images. Where Channel 1 is strong with respect to the other channels, the longer-wavelength spectra show a broad continuum gently peaking around 26 micron, with weak or no lines. We suggest that this is due to un-enriched progenitor circumstellar dust behind the outer shock, processed by shock photons and electrons. Where Channel 4 (8 micron) is bright relative to the other IRAC channels, the long-wavelength spectra show a strong, 2-3 micron-wide peak at 21 micron, likely due to silicates and proto-silicates, as well as strong ionic lines of [Ar II], [Ar III], [S IV] and [Ne II]. In these locations, the dust and ionic emission originate from the explosion's O-burning layers. The regions where Channels 2 (4.5 micron) and 3 (5.6 micron) are strongest relative to Channel 4 show a spectrum that rises gradually to 21 micron, and then flattens or rises more slowly to longer wavelengths, along with higher ratios of [Ne II] to [Ar II]. Dust and ionic emission in these locations arise primarily from the C- and Ne- burning layers. These findings are consistent with asymmetries in the explosion producing variations in the velocity structure in different directions, but preserving the nucleosynthetic layers. At each location, the dust and ionic lines in the mid-infrared, and the hotter and more highly ionized optical and X-ray emission are then dominated by the layer currently encountering the reverse shock in that direction.

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