SUMMARY OF PROPOSAL 62091

PROFESSOR WALTER H.G. LEWIN
LEWIN@SPACE.MIT.EDU

M.I.T.
77 MASSACHUSETTS AVE. #37-627
CAMBRIDGE
MA USA 02139
Tel: (617)253-4282 Fax: (617)253-0861
Medium: 2GBDAT
Subject: SUPERNOVA REMNANTS AND GALACTIC DIFFUSE EMISSION

OBSERVATIONS OF SN1995N


ABSTRACT

Last year we detected the supernova SN1995N in X-rays with the ROSAT HRI, making it only the seventh recent supernova to be detected in the X-ray band. Here we propose follow-up observations with ASCA's superior energy resolution and high-energy sensitivity. Such observations will reveal details of the supernova's circumstellar material (CSM) and allow us to constrain the properties of its reverse shock region. They will allow us to detect a 7 keV iron emission line of equivalent width 0.3 keV or greater, similar to those seen in two other recent SNe, and possibly determine whether this emission originates in the reverse shock or within clumps of the CSM. Coordinated observations at radio wavelengths find that this supernova remains radio-bright, an excellent indicator of X-ray emission.

CO-INVESTIGATORS
CO-I NAME INSTITUTE COUNTRY
D. FOXMITUSA
H. INOUEISASJAPAN
S. UNOISASJAPAN
K. WEILERNRLUSA
S. VAN DYKBERKELEYUSA
H.U. ZIMMERMANNMPEGERMANY
R. RUTLEDGEMPEGERMANY
B. ASCHENBACHMPEGERMANY

TARGETS

TARGET NAMEPRIRADECTIMETCOFFGISSIS CNTOBS
1)SN1995N
3
222.3679-10.1706 50 ksN
Y
P
0.07000
2

TARGET 1

ONE 50-KSEC OBSERVATION DURING EACH OF THE TWO OBSERVING WINDOWS, 1/23/98 -- 2/21/98 AND 7/15/98 -- 8/16/98.