Gamma-ray lines from SN1987A

Abstract

Results of gamma-ray observations of SN1987A conducted over a period of 800 days using balloon-borne high-resolution germanium detectors are discussed. Most of the measurements show red-shifted line centroids (about 500 km/s) and broadened profiles, contradicting the standard homogeneous and spherically symmetric models, which predict blue-shifted lines and narrower line widths. To explain this apparent contradiction, it may be necessary to invoke fragmentation and nonspherical geometries.