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Arxiv: Deep JWST/NIRCam imaging of Supernova 1987A Published: 4/15/2024 9:00:02 PM Updated: 4/15/2024 9:00:02 PM

Paper abstract: JWST/NIRCam obtained high angular-resolution (0.05-0.1''), deep near-infrared1--5 micron imaging of Supernova (SN) 1987A taken 35 years after the explosion.In the NIRCam images, we identify: 1) faint H2 crescents, which are emissionslocated between the ejecta and the equatorial ring, 2) a bar, which is asubstructure of the ejecta, and 3) the bright 3-5 micron continuum emissionexterior to the equatorial ring. The emission of the remnant in the NIRCam1-2.3 micron images is mostly due to line emission, which is mostly emitted inthe ejecta and in the hot spots within the equatorial ring. In contrast, theNIRCam 3-5 micron images are dominated by continuum emission. In the ejecta,the continuum is due to dust, obscuring the centre of the ejecta. In contrast,in the ring and exterior to the ring, synchrotron emission contributes asubstantial fraction to the continuum. Dust emission contributes to the continuum at outer spots and diffuseemission exterior to the ring, but little within the ring. This shows that dustcooling and destruction time scales are shorter than the synchrotron coolingtime scale, and the time scale of hydrogen recombination in the ring is evenlonger than the synchrotron cooling time scale. With the advent of high sensitivity and high angular resolution imagesprovided by JWST/NIRCam, our observations of SN 1987A demonstrate that NIRCamopens up a window to study particle-acceleration and shock physics inunprecedented details, probed by near-infrared synchrotron emission, building aprecise picture of how a SN evolves.