The X-ray spectrum and light curve of Supernova 1995N |
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| Authors: | D. W. Fox W. H. G. Lewin A. Fabian K. Iwasawa R. Terlevich H. U. Zimmermann B. Aschenbach K. Weiler S. Van Dyk R. Chevalier R. Rutledge H. Inoue S. Uno |
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| Affiliation: | MIT Center for Space Research, 77 Massachusetts Ave #37-627, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307, USA;Institute of Astronomy, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HA;Royal Greenwich Observatory, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0EZ;Max-Planck-Institut für Extraterrestrische Physik, Postfach 1312, D-85741 Gärching, Germany;Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375-5300, USA;IPAC/Caltech 100–22, Pasadena, CA 91115, USA;Department of Astronomy, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903-0818, USA;California Institute of Technology MC 220–47, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA;Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Sagamihara, Japan |
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| Abstract: | We report on multi-epoch X-ray observations of the Type IIn (narrow emission line) Supernova (SN) 1995N with the ROSAT and ASCA satellites. The 1998 January ASCA X-ray spectrum is well fitted by a thermal bremsstrahlung or power-law model. The X-ray light curve shows evidence for significant flux evolution between 1996 August and 1998 January: the count rate from the source decreased by 30 per cent between our 1996 August and 1997 August ROSAT observations, and the X-ray luminosity most likely increased by a factor of ∼2 between our 1997 August ROSAT and 1998 January ASCA observations, although evolution of the spectral shape over this interval is not ruled out. The high X-ray luminosity, places SN 1995N in a small group of Type IIn supernovae with strong circumstellar interaction, and the evolving X-ray luminosity suggests that the circumstellar medium is distributed inhomogeneously. |
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| Keywords: | circumstellar matter supernovae: individual: SN 1995N X-rays: stars |
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