Asymmetric ejecta distribution in Sn 1006

Abstract

We present the results from deep X-ray observations (∼400 ks in total) of SN 1006 with Suzaku. The thermal spectrum from the entire supernova remnant (SNR) exhibits prominent emission lines of O, Ne, Mg, Si, S, Ar, Ca, and Fe. The observed abundance pattern in the ejecta components is in good agreement with that predicted by a standard model of Type Ia supernovae (SNe). The spatially resolved analysis reveals that the distribution of the O-burning and incomplete Si-burning products (Si, S, and Ar) is asymmetric, while that of the C-burning products (O, Ne, and Mg) is relatively uniform in the SNR interior. The peak position of the former is clearly shifted by 5′ (∼3.2 pc at the distance of 2.2 kpc) to the southeast (SE) from the SNR's geometric center. Using the SNR age of ∼1000 yr, we constrain that the velocity asymmetry (in projection) of the ejecta is ∼3100 km s-1. The Fe abundance is also significantly higher in the SE region than in the northwest. Given that the non-uniformity is observed only in the heavier elements (Si through Fe), we argue that SN 1006 originates from an asymmetric explosion, as is expected from recent multidimensional simulations of Type Ia SNe, although we cannot eliminate the possibility that inhomogeneous ambient medium had induced the apparent non-uniformity. Possible evidence for the Cr-K-shell line and line broadening in the Fe-K-shell emission is also found. © 2013. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.