Doppler Broadening and Line-of-sight Effects in Core-collapse Supernovae and Young Remnants

The dynamics and spectral characteristics of supernova ejecta reveal details of the supernova energetics, explosive nucleosynthesis, and evolution of the progenitor. However, in practice, this important diagnostic information is only derived from CCD-resolution X-ray spectra of shock-heated material. If the spectra were to be observed at higher resolution, then important clues to the explosion energetics would be obvious through measurements of bulk Doppler motions and turbulence in the ejecta. Likewise, the unshocked ejecta in supernovae and young remnants are responsible for obscuring the emission from ejecta on the back side of the remnant. In light of these important effects, we present line-of-sight spectral maps of core-collapse supernova remnant models. We explore the bulk Doppler broadening of spectral lines, including line-of-sight effects. We also explore the time-dependent absorption from both shocked and unshocked ejecta. Finally, we discuss how future X-ray missions such as XRISM and Athena will be able to resolve these effects in nearby and extragalactic supernovae and their remnants.

Automated summary

The dynamics and spectral characteristics of supernova ejecta provide important information about the energetics of supernovae, explosive nucleosynthesis, and progenitor evolution. However, this information is currently obtained only from CCD-resolution X-ray spectra of shock-heated material. Higher resolution observations could reveal important clues to explosion energetics through measurements of Doppler motions and turbulence in the ejecta. Additionally, unshocked ejecta in supernovae and young remnants can obscure emission from ejecta on the opposite side. To address these effects, we present line-of-sight spectral maps and explore bulk Doppler broadening and time-dependent absorption from both shocked and unshocked ejecta. We also discuss how future X-ray missions can resolve these effects in nearby and extragalactic supernovae and their remnants.