2005/05/05 by Martino Romaniello, M. Romaniello, Ferdinando Patat +9 · 9 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy #Astrophysics #Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena #Galaxies: Formation, Evolution, Phenomena #Galaxy #Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae #Optics #Photometry (optics) #Physics #Polarimetry #Polarization (electrochemistry) #Spiral galaxy #Stars #Supernova #Supernova remnant #Telescope #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1086/431470
published in The Astrophysical Journal 629(1), 250-258 (IOP Publishing) · Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal (20 August 2005, v629). High-resolution version available at http://www.eso.org/~mromanie/m83_echoes.ps.gz
arxiv created 2005/05/05 · openalex publication_date 2005/08/03 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
We have used FORS1 at the ESO Very Large Telescope to search for light echoes in imaging polarimetry from four historical supernovae in the face-on nearby spiral galaxy M83 (NGC 5236). No echoes were detected around our targets (SN 1923A, SN 1945B, SN 1950B, and SN 1957D). This implies that the interstellar medium in their environs is rather tenuous (a few particles per cm 3 ), possibly as a result of previous supernova explosions that could have cleared the immediate vicinities of our targets. The merits and limitations of searching for light echoes in imaging polarimetry are discussed. From the photometry of the sources detected at the supernova locations, we estimate star cluster masses of 720, 400, and 300 M ☉ for the cluster progenitors of SN 1957D, SN 1923A, and SN 1950B, respectively, and an upper limit of a few tens of solar masses for SN 1945B.