LATE SPECTRAL EVOLUTION OF SN-1987A - II - LINE EMISSION

Using the temperature and ionization calculated in our previous paper, we model the spectral evolution of SN 1987A. We find that the tempera ture evolution is directly reflected in the time evolution of the line s. In particular, the IR catastrophe is seen in the metal lines as a t ransition from thermal to nonthermal excitation, seen most clearly in the [O I] lambda lambda 6300, 6364 lines. The good agreement with obse rvations clearly confirms the predicted optical to IR transition. Beca use the line emissivity is independent of temperature in the nontherma l phase, this phase has a strong potential for estimating the total ma ss of the most abundant elements. The hydrogen lines arise as a result of recombinations following ionizations in the Balmer continuum durin g the first similar to 500 days and later as a result of nonthermal io nizations. The distribution of the different zones, and therefore the gamma-ray deposition, is determined from the line profiles of the most important lines, where possible. We find that hydrogen extends into t he core to less than or similar to 700 km s(-1). The hydrogen envelope has a density profile close to rho proportional to V-2 from 2000-5000 km s(-1). The total mass of hydrogen-rich gas is similar to 7.7 M., o f which similar to 2.2 M. is mixed within 2000 km s(-1). The helium ma ss derived from the line fluxes is sensitive to assumptions about the degree of redistribution in the line. The mass of the helium-dominated zone is consistent with similar to 1.9 M., with a further similar to 3.9 M., of helium residing in the hydrogen component. Most of the oxyg en-rich gas is confined to 400-2000 km s(-1), with a total mass of sim ilar to 1.9 M.. Because of uncertainties in the modeling of the non-th ermal excitation of the CO II lines, the uncertainty in the estimated oxygen mass is considerable. Masses of nitrogen, neon, magnesium, iron , and nickel are also estimated. The dominant contribution to the line luminosity often originates in a different zone from that in which mo st of the newly synthesized material resides. This applies to, e.g., c arbon, calcium, and iron. The [C I] lines, arising mainly in the heliu m zone, indicate a substantially lower abundance of carbon mixed with helium than given by stellar evolution models, and a more extended zon e with CNO-processed gas is also indicated. The [Fe II] lines have in most phases a strong contribution from primordial iron, and at t great er than or similar to 600-800 days this component dominates the [Fe II ] lines. The wings of the [Fe II] lines may therefore come from primor dial iron rather than synthesized iron mixed to high velocity. Lines f rom ions with low ionization potentials indicate that the UV field bel ow at least 1600 Angstrom is severely quenched by dust absorption and resonance scattering.