Proposal Details - 0920022
Study of the Large Magellanic Cloud and Supernova 1987A (part III) (Grebenev)
Proposal Abstract
An additional deep 3.0 Msec exposure of the Large Magellanic Cloud is proposed, in order 1) to confidently detect and precisely measure the flux from SN 1987A in the direct-escape lines of radioactive Ti-44 (lines at 67.9, 78.4 and 511 keV), 2) to study possible hard X-ray emission produced by cosmic-rays accelerated in the ejecta blast wave interacting with the ``inner equatorial ring" of circumstellar material of SNR 1987A, 3) to search for hard emission from the stellar remnant of this supernova (or significantly improve the existing upper limit). This proposal is a continuation of proposals approved in AO-7 (2.0 Msec exposure) and AO-8 (1.5 Msec exposure). The additional 3.0 Msec observations of the region in AO-9 increase the total exposure for SN1987A till 9 Msec. That will allow INTEGRAL to confidently detect the Ti-44 radioactive lines. In addition to the above (main) purposes of the proposal, one will try to detect an electron-positron annihilation line from the dark bulge of the LMC (testing the hypothesis that the line can be produced in the LMC and in the Galactic center by dark matter annihilation). The deep observation of the LMC will also allow to monitor X-ray variability of a number of compact X-ray sources present in the field and to search for new X-ray transients and weak sources.
Observation Strategy (Recommended by TAC)
3 Ms in the standard 5x5 dithering mode centered on RA, Dec = 83.867 -69.27 (l, b = 279.703, -31.937).
Proposal grade: A
Data Rights (Recommended by TAC)
The TAC granted data rights for SN1987A and diffuse 511 keV emission (line and positronium continuum).
Consult the Data Rights policy for more information on Russian Federation proposals.
Exposure Map
The exposure maps are in galactic coordinates using the Aitoff projection and units of seconds, and the colour scale is indicated at the bottom. The green lines provide the 100, 300 and 500 ksec contour.
