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High-entropy ejecta plumes in Cassiopeia A from neutrino-driven convection

Author

Listed:
  • Toshiki Sato

    (RIKEN
    NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center
    University of Maryland Baltimore County
    Rikkyo University)

  • Keiichi Maeda

    (Kyoto University)

  • Shigehiro Nagataki

    (RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research
    RIKEN Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Science Program (iTHEMS))

  • Takashi Yoshida

    (University of Tokyo
    Kyoto University)

  • Brian Grefenstette

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • Brian J. Williams

    (NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center)

  • Hideyuki Umeda

    (University of Tokyo)

  • Masaomi Ono

    (RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research
    RIKEN Interdisciplinary Theoretical and Mathematical Science Program (iTHEMS))

  • John P. Hughes

    (Rutgers University)

Abstract

Recent multi-dimensional simulations suggest that high-entropy buoyant plumes help massive stars to explode1,2. Outwardly protruding iron (Fe)-rich fingers of gas in the galactic supernova remnant3,4 Cassiopeia A seem to match this picture. Detecting the signatures of specific elements synthesized in the high-entropy nuclear burning regime (that is, α-rich freeze out) would constitute strong substantiating evidence. Here we report observations of such elements—stable titanium (Ti) and chromium (Cr)—at a confidence level greater than 5 standard deviations in the shocked high-velocity Fe-rich ejecta of Cassiopeia A. We found that the observed Ti/Fe and Cr/Fe mass ratios require α-rich freeze out, providing evidence of the existence of the high-entropy ejecta plumes that boosted the shock wave at explosion. The metal composition of the plumes agrees well with predictions for strongly neutrino-processed proton-rich ejecta2,5,6. These results support the operation of the convective supernova engine via neutrino heating in the supernova that produced Cassiopeia A.

Suggested Citation

  • Toshiki Sato & Keiichi Maeda & Shigehiro Nagataki & Takashi Yoshida & Brian Grefenstette & Brian J. Williams & Hideyuki Umeda & Masaomi Ono & John P. Hughes, 2021. "High-entropy ejecta plumes in Cassiopeia A from neutrino-driven convection," Nature, Nature, vol. 592(7855), pages 537-540, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:592:y:2021:i:7855:d:10.1038_s41586-021-03391-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03391-9
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