A primary objective of the Compton Observatory is the direct study of explosive nucleosynthesis in supernovae and classical nova. We have been fortunate in that three rare events have coincided, relatively speaking, with the Compton Observatory launch. Supernova 1987A, roughly a once per century event, was only 4 years old at launch and so the γ‐ray flux from 57Co decay was not much past its peak value. Supernova 1991T, a SN Ia which exploded within a few days of launch, is a once in a decade event. It offers as good a chance as we could reasonably expect to detect the 56Ni and 56Co decay which are supposed to be responsible for the impressive SN Ia display. Nova Cygni 1992, also a once in a decade event, might be our best change to detect γ‐rays from 22Na, a unique nucleosynthesis byproduct of the explosive hydrogen burning thought to power classical novae. The OSSE has detected 122 keV line and Compton scattered continuum photons from 57Co decay in SN 1987A. The total flux of 9×10−5 cm−2 s−1 corresponds to a 57Ni/56Ni production of 1.5±0.5 relative to solar Fe, which is in conflict with previous interpretations of optical and infrared data. OSSE and COMPTEL upper limits on 56Co γ‐ray lines from SN 1991T at 3–4×10−5 cm−2 s−1 are not in conflict with published models of SN Ia at distances ≥10 Mpc. However if those models are correct, the distance must be ≤10 Mpc to give the observed optical luminosity, and are then in conflict with the γ‐ray limits. The OSSE upper limit from N Cyg 1992 near 10−4 cm−2 s−1 at 1.275 MeV corresponds to an ejected 22Na mass of 8×10−8 M⊙ at a distance of 1.5 kpc.
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Research Article|
July 05 1993
Compton Observatory OSSE studies of supernovae and novae
M. D. Leising;
M. D. Leising
Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634‐1911
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D. D. Clayton;
D. D. Clayton
Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634‐1911
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L.‐S. The;
L.‐S. The
Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina 29634‐1911
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W. N. Johnson;
W. N. Johnson
Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375
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J. D. Kurfess;
J. D. Kurfess
Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375
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R. L. Kinzer;
R. L. Kinzer
Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375
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R. A. Kroeger;
R. A. Kroeger
Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375
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M. S. Strickman;
M. S. Strickman
Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375
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J. E. Grove;
J. E. Grove
Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375
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D. A. Grabelsky;
D. A. Grabelsky
Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60201
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W. R. Purcell;
W. R. Purcell
Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60201
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M. P. Ulmer;
M. P. Ulmer
Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60201
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R. A. Cameron;
R. A. Cameron
Universities Space Research Association, Washington, DC 20024
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G. V. Jung
G. V. Jung
Universities Space Research Association, Washington, DC 20024
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AIP Conf. Proc. 280, 137–146 (1993)
Citation
M. D. Leising, D. D. Clayton, L.‐S. The, W. N. Johnson, J. D. Kurfess, R. L. Kinzer, R. A. Kroeger, M. S. Strickman, J. E. Grove, D. A. Grabelsky, W. R. Purcell, M. P. Ulmer, R. A. Cameron, G. V. Jung; Compton Observatory OSSE studies of supernovae and novae. AIP Conf. Proc. 5 July 1993; 280 (1): 137–146. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.44160
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