Spitzer Measurements of Atomic and Molecular Abundances in the Type IIP SN 2005af

• Published in: The Astrophysical journal Vol. 651; no. 2; pp. L117 - L120
• Main Authors: Kotak, Rubina, Meikle, Peter, Pozzo, Monica, van Dyk, Schuyler D, Farrah, Duncan, Fesen, Robert, Filippenko, Alexei V, Foley, Ryan J, Fransson, Claes, Gerardy, Christopher L, Höflich, Peter A, Lundqvist, Peter, Mattila, Seppo, Sollerman, Jesper, Wheeler, J. Craig
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL IOP Publishing 10.11.2006; University of Chicago Press
• Subjects: Astronomi och astrofysik; Astronomy; Astronomy and astrophysics; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Formation and development of stars; Fysik; NATURAL SCIENCES; NATURVETENSKAP; Physics; Stars: Supernovae: General; Stars: Supernovae: Individual: Alphanumeric: SN 1987A; Stars: Supernovae: Individual: Alphanumeric: SN 2004dj; Stjärnors bildning och utveckling; supernovae: individual (SN 2005af); Abundance; Supernovae; supernovae: general; supernovae: individual (SN 1987A, SN 2004dj, SN 2005af), color figures; Color
• ISSN: 1538-4357; 0004-637X; 1538-4357
• DOI: 10.1086/509655

We present results based on mid-infrared (3.6-30 km) observations with the Spitzer Space Telescope of the nearby Type IIP supernova 2005af. We report the first ever detection of the SiO molecule in a Type IIP supernova. Together with the detection of the CO fundamental, this is an exciting finding as it may signal the onset of dust condensation in the ejecta. From a wealth of fine-structure lines we provide abundance estimates for stable Ni, Ar, and Ne that, via spectral synthesis, may be used to constrain nucleosynthesis models.