A JWST Survey of the Supernova Remnant Cassiopeia A

Dan Milisavljevic; Tea Temim; Ilse De Looze; Danielle Dickinson; J. Martin Laming; Robert Fesen; John C. Raymond; Richard G. Arendt; Jacco Vink; Bettina Posselt; George G. Pavlov; Ori D. Fox; Ethan Pinarski; Bhagya Subrayan; Judy Schmidt; William P. Blair; Armin Rest; Daniel Patnaude; Bon Chul Koo; Jeonghee Rho; Salvatore Orlando; Hans Thomas Janka; Moira Andrews; Michael J. Barlow; Adam Burrows; Roger Chevalier; Geoffrey Clayton; Claes Fransson; Christopher Fryer; Haley L. Gomez; Florian Kirchschlager; Jae Joon Lee; Mikako Matsuura; Maria Niculescu-Duvaz; Justin D.R. Pierel; Paul P. Plucinsky; Felix D. Priestley; Aravind P. Ravi; Nina S. Sartorio; Franziska Schmidt; Melissa Shahbandeh; Patrick Slane; Nathan Smith; Niharika Sravan; Kathryn Weil; Roger Wesson; J. Craig Wheeler

doi:10.3847/2041-8213/ad324b

A JWST Survey of the Supernova Remnant Cassiopeia A

Dan Milisavljevic, Tea Temim, Ilse De Looze, Danielle Dickinson, J. Martin Laming, Robert Fesen, John C. Raymond, Richard G. Arendt, Jacco Vink, Bettina Posselt, George G. Pavlov, Ori D. Fox, Ethan Pinarski, Bhagya Subrayan, Judy Schmidt, William P. Blair, Armin Rest, Daniel Patnaude, Bon Chul Koo, Jeonghee RhoSalvatore Orlando, Hans Thomas Janka, Moira Andrews, Michael J. Barlow, Adam Burrows, Roger Chevalier, Geoffrey Clayton, Claes Fransson, Christopher Fryer, Haley L. Gomez, Florian Kirchschlager, Jae Joon Lee, Mikako Matsuura, Maria Niculescu-Duvaz, Justin D.R. Pierel, Paul P. Plucinsky, Felix D. Priestley, Aravind P. Ravi, Nina S. Sartorio, Franziska Schmidt, Melissa Shahbandeh, Patrick Slane, Nathan Smith, Niharika Sravan, Kathryn Weil, Roger Wesson, J. Craig Wheeler

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Abstract

We present initial results from a James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) survey of the youngest Galactic core-collapse supernova remnant, Cassiopeia A (Cas A), made up of NIRCam and MIRI imaging mosaics that map emission from the main shell, interior, and surrounding circumstellar/interstellar material (CSM/ISM). We also present four exploratory positions of MIRI Medium Resolution Spectrograph integral field unit spectroscopy that sample ejecta, CSM, and associated dust from representative shocked and unshocked regions. Surprising discoveries include (1) a weblike network of unshocked ejecta filaments resolved to ∼0.01 pc scales exhibiting an overall morphology consistent with turbulent mixing of cool, low-entropy matter from the progenitor’s oxygen layer with hot, high-entropy matter heated by neutrino interactions and radioactivity; (2) a thick sheet of dust-dominated emission from shocked CSM seen in projection toward the remnant’s interior pockmarked with small (∼1″) round holes formed by ≲0.″1 knots of high-velocity ejecta that have pierced through the CSM and driven expanding tangential shocks; and (3) dozens of light echoes with angular sizes between ∼0.″1 and 1′ reflecting previously unseen fine-scale structure in the ISM. NIRCam observations place new upper limits on infrared emission (≲20 nJy at 3 μm) from the neutron star in Cas A’s center and tightly constrain scenarios involving a possible fallback disk. These JWST survey data and initial findings help address unresolved questions about massive star explosions that have broad implications for the formation and evolution of stellar populations, the metal and dust enrichment of galaxies, and the origin of compact remnant objects.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	L27
Journal	Astrophysical Journal Letters
Volume	965
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ad324b
State	Published - Apr 1 2024

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

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10.3847/2041-8213/ad324b

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Milisavljevic, D., Temim, T., De Looze, I., Dickinson, D., Laming, J. M., Fesen, R., Raymond, J. C., Arendt, R. G., Vink, J., Posselt, B., Pavlov, G. G., Fox, O. D., Pinarski, E., Subrayan, B., Schmidt, J., Blair, W. P., Rest, A., Patnaude, D., Koo, B. C., ... Wheeler, J. C. (2024). A JWST Survey of the Supernova Remnant Cassiopeia A. Astrophysical Journal Letters, 965(2), Article L27. https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ad324b

@article{1eaee46fac1a4f5ba90fc5096f8b5669,

title = "A JWST Survey of the Supernova Remnant Cassiopeia A",

abstract = "We present initial results from a James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) survey of the youngest Galactic core-collapse supernova remnant, Cassiopeia A (Cas A), made up of NIRCam and MIRI imaging mosaics that map emission from the main shell, interior, and surrounding circumstellar/interstellar material (CSM/ISM). We also present four exploratory positions of MIRI Medium Resolution Spectrograph integral field unit spectroscopy that sample ejecta, CSM, and associated dust from representative shocked and unshocked regions. Surprising discoveries include (1) a weblike network of unshocked ejecta filaments resolved to ∼0.01 pc scales exhibiting an overall morphology consistent with turbulent mixing of cool, low-entropy matter from the progenitor{\textquoteright}s oxygen layer with hot, high-entropy matter heated by neutrino interactions and radioactivity; (2) a thick sheet of dust-dominated emission from shocked CSM seen in projection toward the remnant{\textquoteright}s interior pockmarked with small (∼1″) round holes formed by ≲0.″1 knots of high-velocity ejecta that have pierced through the CSM and driven expanding tangential shocks; and (3) dozens of light echoes with angular sizes between ∼0.″1 and 1′ reflecting previously unseen fine-scale structure in the ISM. NIRCam observations place new upper limits on infrared emission (≲20 nJy at 3 μm) from the neutron star in Cas A{\textquoteright}s center and tightly constrain scenarios involving a possible fallback disk. These JWST survey data and initial findings help address unresolved questions about massive star explosions that have broad implications for the formation and evolution of stellar populations, the metal and dust enrichment of galaxies, and the origin of compact remnant objects.",

author = "Dan Milisavljevic and Tea Temim and {De Looze}, Ilse and Danielle Dickinson and Laming, {J. Martin} and Robert Fesen and Raymond, {John C.} and Arendt, {Richard G.} and Jacco Vink and Bettina Posselt and Pavlov, {George G.} and Fox, {Ori D.} and Ethan Pinarski and Bhagya Subrayan and Judy Schmidt and Blair, {William P.} and Armin Rest and Daniel Patnaude and Koo, {Bon Chul} and Jeonghee Rho and Salvatore Orlando and Janka, {Hans Thomas} and Moira Andrews and Barlow, {Michael J.} and Adam Burrows and Roger Chevalier and Geoffrey Clayton and Claes Fransson and Christopher Fryer and Gomez, {Haley L.} and Florian Kirchschlager and Lee, {Jae Joon} and Mikako Matsuura and Maria Niculescu-Duvaz and Pierel, {Justin D.R.} and Plucinsky, {Paul P.} and Priestley, {Felix D.} and Ravi, {Aravind P.} and Sartorio, {Nina S.} and Franziska Schmidt and Melissa Shahbandeh and Patrick Slane and Nathan Smith and Niharika Sravan and Kathryn Weil and Roger Wesson and Wheeler, {J. Craig}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2024. The Author(s). Published by the American Astronomical Society.",

year = "2024",

month = apr,

day = "1",

doi = "10.3847/2041-8213/ad324b",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "965",

journal = "Astrophysical Journal Letters",

issn = "2041-8205",

publisher = "IOP Publishing Ltd.",

number = "2",

}

Milisavljevic, D, Temim, T, De Looze, I, Dickinson, D, Laming, JM, Fesen, R, Raymond, JC, Arendt, RG, Vink, J, Posselt, B, Pavlov, GG, Fox, OD, Pinarski, E, Subrayan, B, Schmidt, J, Blair, WP, Rest, A, Patnaude, D, Koo, BC, Rho, J, Orlando, S, Janka, HT, Andrews, M, Barlow, MJ, Burrows, A, Chevalier, R, Clayton, G, Fransson, C, Fryer, C, Gomez, HL, Kirchschlager, F, Lee, JJ, Matsuura, M, Niculescu-Duvaz, M, Pierel, JDR, Plucinsky, PP, Priestley, FD, Ravi, AP, Sartorio, NS, Schmidt, F, Shahbandeh, M, Slane, P, Smith, N, Sravan, N, Weil, K, Wesson, R & Wheeler, JC 2024, 'A JWST Survey of the Supernova Remnant Cassiopeia A', Astrophysical Journal Letters, vol. 965, no. 2, L27. https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ad324b

TY - JOUR

T1 - A JWST Survey of the Supernova Remnant Cassiopeia A

AU - Milisavljevic, Dan

AU - Temim, Tea

AU - De Looze, Ilse

AU - Dickinson, Danielle

AU - Laming, J. Martin

AU - Fesen, Robert

AU - Raymond, John C.

AU - Arendt, Richard G.

AU - Vink, Jacco

AU - Posselt, Bettina

AU - Pavlov, George G.

AU - Fox, Ori D.

AU - Pinarski, Ethan

AU - Subrayan, Bhagya

AU - Schmidt, Judy

AU - Blair, William P.

AU - Rest, Armin

AU - Patnaude, Daniel

AU - Koo, Bon Chul

AU - Rho, Jeonghee

AU - Orlando, Salvatore

AU - Janka, Hans Thomas

AU - Andrews, Moira

AU - Barlow, Michael J.

AU - Burrows, Adam

AU - Chevalier, Roger

AU - Clayton, Geoffrey

AU - Fransson, Claes

AU - Fryer, Christopher

AU - Gomez, Haley L.

AU - Kirchschlager, Florian

AU - Lee, Jae Joon

AU - Matsuura, Mikako

AU - Niculescu-Duvaz, Maria

AU - Pierel, Justin D.R.

AU - Plucinsky, Paul P.

AU - Priestley, Felix D.

AU - Ravi, Aravind P.

AU - Sartorio, Nina S.

AU - Schmidt, Franziska

AU - Shahbandeh, Melissa

AU - Slane, Patrick

AU - Smith, Nathan

AU - Sravan, Niharika

AU - Weil, Kathryn

AU - Wesson, Roger

AU - Wheeler, J. Craig

PY - 2024/4/1

Y1 - 2024/4/1

N2 - We present initial results from a James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) survey of the youngest Galactic core-collapse supernova remnant, Cassiopeia A (Cas A), made up of NIRCam and MIRI imaging mosaics that map emission from the main shell, interior, and surrounding circumstellar/interstellar material (CSM/ISM). We also present four exploratory positions of MIRI Medium Resolution Spectrograph integral field unit spectroscopy that sample ejecta, CSM, and associated dust from representative shocked and unshocked regions. Surprising discoveries include (1) a weblike network of unshocked ejecta filaments resolved to ∼0.01 pc scales exhibiting an overall morphology consistent with turbulent mixing of cool, low-entropy matter from the progenitor’s oxygen layer with hot, high-entropy matter heated by neutrino interactions and radioactivity; (2) a thick sheet of dust-dominated emission from shocked CSM seen in projection toward the remnant’s interior pockmarked with small (∼1″) round holes formed by ≲0.″1 knots of high-velocity ejecta that have pierced through the CSM and driven expanding tangential shocks; and (3) dozens of light echoes with angular sizes between ∼0.″1 and 1′ reflecting previously unseen fine-scale structure in the ISM. NIRCam observations place new upper limits on infrared emission (≲20 nJy at 3 μm) from the neutron star in Cas A’s center and tightly constrain scenarios involving a possible fallback disk. These JWST survey data and initial findings help address unresolved questions about massive star explosions that have broad implications for the formation and evolution of stellar populations, the metal and dust enrichment of galaxies, and the origin of compact remnant objects.

AB - We present initial results from a James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) survey of the youngest Galactic core-collapse supernova remnant, Cassiopeia A (Cas A), made up of NIRCam and MIRI imaging mosaics that map emission from the main shell, interior, and surrounding circumstellar/interstellar material (CSM/ISM). We also present four exploratory positions of MIRI Medium Resolution Spectrograph integral field unit spectroscopy that sample ejecta, CSM, and associated dust from representative shocked and unshocked regions. Surprising discoveries include (1) a weblike network of unshocked ejecta filaments resolved to ∼0.01 pc scales exhibiting an overall morphology consistent with turbulent mixing of cool, low-entropy matter from the progenitor’s oxygen layer with hot, high-entropy matter heated by neutrino interactions and radioactivity; (2) a thick sheet of dust-dominated emission from shocked CSM seen in projection toward the remnant’s interior pockmarked with small (∼1″) round holes formed by ≲0.″1 knots of high-velocity ejecta that have pierced through the CSM and driven expanding tangential shocks; and (3) dozens of light echoes with angular sizes between ∼0.″1 and 1′ reflecting previously unseen fine-scale structure in the ISM. NIRCam observations place new upper limits on infrared emission (≲20 nJy at 3 μm) from the neutron star in Cas A’s center and tightly constrain scenarios involving a possible fallback disk. These JWST survey data and initial findings help address unresolved questions about massive star explosions that have broad implications for the formation and evolution of stellar populations, the metal and dust enrichment of galaxies, and the origin of compact remnant objects.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85190718706&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85190718706&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.3847/2041-8213/ad324b

DO - 10.3847/2041-8213/ad324b

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85190718706

SN - 2041-8205

VL - 965

JO - Astrophysical Journal Letters

JF - Astrophysical Journal Letters

IS - 2

M1 - L27

ER -

A JWST Survey of the Supernova Remnant Cassiopeia A

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