Superresolution of SN 1987A: A Comparative Deconvolution Study

D. S. Briggs

Supernova 1987A in the Large Magellanic Cloud presents unprecedented opportunity to observe the evolution of a supernova at all wavelengths. While optical observations with the HST Faint Object Camera have obtained resolutions of 0.1", we are limited in the radio to the resolution obtainable with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA). At the highest frequency of 8.8 GHz, this corresponds to a synthesized beam width of 0.9". At this resolution the radio supernova is distinct from a point source, but few physical conclusions can be drawn. We present here superresolved images from the ATCA with an effective resolution of 0.5". These reveal a spherical shell-like structure with a radius of 0.6", and an additional component of emission aligned with the circumstellar ring imaged with the FOC. Care is required due to the delicate nature of the imaging problem, and we present evidence that the overall image structure is plausible.

Pages 250-256

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