The X-ray lightcurve of SN 1987A

Original · EN

X-ray observations of SN 1987A in the Magellanic Clouds have been performed throughout the ROSAT mission, using the PSPC and the HRI detectors. We present the X-ray light curve based on all observations in the years 1991-1995. For the first time a significant increase of the X-ray flux from SN 1987A can be seen, corresponding to X-ray luminosities (0.5-2 keV) of 0.8 - 2.2 X 10**34 erg/s about 4 - 8 years after the explosion. SN 1987A is surrounded by a ringlike nebula, which is thought to form the interface between the blue-supergiant wind and the denser red-supergiant wind of the progenitor. The X-ray data can constrain the density of the matter inside the ring to about 30 amu/cm**3 and the date at which the blast wave will reach the ring to about AD 2003, when a dramatic brightening is expected to occur. Nevertheless, other interpretations of the X-ray emission are possible.