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Published Online June 10, 2004
Science DOI: 10.1126/science.1099460

Reports

Submitted on April 22, 2004
Accepted on May 18, 2004

Discovery of a Compact Radio Component in the Center of Supernova 1986J

Michael F. Bietenholz 1*, Norbert Bartel 1, Michael P. Rupen 2

1 Department of Physics and Astronomy, York University, Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3, Canada.
2 National Radio Astronomy Observatory, 1003 Lopezville Road, Socorro, NM 87801, USA.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Michael F. Bietenholz , E-mail: mbieten{at}yorku.ca

A bright, compact radio component has been discovered near the center of the expanding shell of supernova 1986J using very-long-baseline interferometry observations. The component, not present in earlier images, has an inverted radio spectrum different from that of the shell. Such an inversion has not been seen in the spectrum of any other supernova. The new component is likely radio emission associated with accretion onto a black hole or the nebula formed around an energetic young neutron star in the center of SN 1986J, which would directly link a black hole or a neutron star to a modern supernova.




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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)