A synoptic spectral study of Cassiopeia-A based on XMM-Newton and BeppoSax observations

Abstract

In this paper we present recent image and spectral data of Cas-A obtained with XMM-Newton and BeppoSAX. Analysis of the hard X-ray continuum does not support an interpretation of the hard X-radiation as synchrotron emission produced in the primary shock, non-thermal Bremsstrahlung is a plausible alternative. Moreover, a recent 500 kilosecond deep observation of the hard X-ray continuum by BeppoSAX has revealed the positive detection of the 44Sc nuclear decay lines at 67.9 and 78.4 keV. Appropriate modelling of the hard X-ray continuum leads to an estimate of the initial 44Ti mass of (0.8-2.5)E-4 solar masses. We also present ionisation age, temperature, abundances maps. The observed elemental abundance ratio patterns can be reconciled best with a type Ib SNe, arising from a 60 solar mass progenitor (ZAMS) with high-mass-loss. The accurate modeling of the image-resolved emission line spectra has enabled us to derive reliable Doppler velocities for the bright Si-K, S-K, and Fe-K line complexes.