The BeppoSAX X-ray spectrum of the remnant of SN 1006

We present BeppoSAX X-ray spectra of the remnant of the supernova of AD 100 6, which cover a broad spectral range of 0.1-10 keV. In our analysis we con centrate on the thermal emission from the central region of the remnant. Fo r this purpose we fitted the spectra of the whole remnant using a new versi on of the spectral program SPEX, which takes into account the interdependen ce of spectra of different regions as the result of the point spread functi on of the instruments. This is in particular important for separating the s ynchrotron emission, coming from the bright rims of the remnant, from the t hermal emission from the central regions. The thermal emission appears best fitted with a combination of two spectral components with electron temperatures of similar to 0.7 keV and greater th an or similar to 3 keV. The plasma in SN 1006 appears to be very far out of ionization equilibrium (n(e)t similar to 2 10(15) m(-3)s), which means tha t the L-shell emission of magnesium, silicon and sulphur contribute signifi cantly to the flux below 0.5 keV. We also note the presence of Fe K line em ission at 6.3 +/- 0.2 keV, in agreement with an origin from inner shell ion izations and excitations. We confirm that the abundances in SN 1006 are cle arly non-solar. In particular silicon is very abundant. We did not find sub stantial variations in plasma properties over the face of the remnant, alth ough the hotter component seems more dominant in the Northern half of the r emnant.