A Three-dimensional View of Molecular Hydrogen in SN 1987A

SN 1987A is the only young supernova (SN) in which H-2 has been detected in the ejecta. The properties of H-2 are important for understanding the explosion and the ejecta chemistry. Here we present new Very Large Telescope/SINFONI observations of H-2 in SN 1987A, focusing on the 2.12 mu m (1,0)S(1) line. We find that the 3D emissivity is dominated by a single clump in the southern ejecta, with weaker emission being present in the north along the plane of the circumstellar ring. The lowest observed velocities are in the range of 400-800 km s(-1), in agreement with previous limits on inward mixing of H. The brightest regions of H-2 coincide with faint regions of H alpha, which can be explained by H alpha being powered by X-ray emission from the ring, while the H-2 is powered by Ti-44. A comparison with ALMA observations of other molecules and dust shows that the brightest regions of H-2, CO, and SiO occupy different parts of the inner ejecta and that the brightest H-2 clump coincides with a region of very weak dust emission. The latter is consistent with theoretical predictions that the H-2 should form in the gas phase rather than on dust grains.