The Iron Abundance and Density Structure of the Inner Ring around SN 1987A

Abstract

We present a spectroscopic study of the inner circumstellar ring around SN 1987A. The aim is to determine the elemental abundances and density structure, with particular emphasis on the abundance of iron. We acquired and analysed optical spectra at the Anglo-Australian Telescope (AAT) between 1400 and 4300 days post-explosion. We also assembled from the literature all available optical/near-IR line fluxes of the inner ring. The observed line light curves were then compared with a photoionisation model for the inner ring. This indicates an iron abundance of (0.20+-0.08) x solar which is lower than that generally seen in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC).