Abstract
The detection of 56Co emission from SN 1991T has been previously reported at a level near the COMPTEL sensitivity threshold. The spectral analysis method, fitting the count spectrum to a background model plus a 56Co emission template, is subject to possible systematic effects which had not been thoroughly studied at that time. To better evaluate the significance of that ∼3.3σ detection, the same method has been applied to a grid of points with 5° spacing, out to 35° from the pointing direction, in each of 103 observing periods from phases 1 through 3. A dozen instances were found with a 56Co signal as significant as that for either of the two observations of SN 1991T alone (∼2σ). Nothing was found as significant as the combined observations of SN 1991T. The strongest instrumental background artifact in the vicinity of the two principal 56Co lines, attributed to 27Mg, falls between the 56Co lines. It fills in the valley between those lines, and so will obscure real 56Co emission rather than producing false 56Cosources. Fortunately, this artifact was weak up to the time of the reboost during phase 3. Thus, it is very unlikely that the reported emission from SN 1991T was a statistical fluctuation or instrumental artifact. But, since the flux was so near the detection threshold, little can be said about the gamma-ray light curve of the supernova, the relative strengths of the 56Co lines, or the line widths.
Department
Space Science Center, Physics
Publication Date
1997
Journal Title
AIP Conference Proceedings
Publisher
AIP Publishing
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1063/1.54174
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Recommended Citation
Reassessment of the 56Co emission from SN 1991T Morris, D. J. and Bennett, K. and Bloemen, H. and Diehl, R. and Hermsen, W. and Lichti, G. G. and McConnell, M. L. and Ryan, J. M. and Schönfelder, V., AIP Conference Proceedings, 410, 1084-1088 (1997), DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.54174
Rights
© 1997 American Institute of Physics