Spatial distribution of nucleosynthesis products in cassiopeia a: Comparison between observations and 3D explosion models

We examine observed heavy element abundances in the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant as a constraint on the nature of the Cas A supernova. We compare bulk abundances from 1D and 3D explosion models and spatial distribution of elements in 3D models with those derived from X-ray observations. We also examine the cospatial production of ²⁶Al with other species. We find that the most reliable indicator of the presence of ²⁶Al in unmixed ejecta is a very low S/Si ratio (∼ 0.05). Production of N in O/S/Si-rich regions is also indicative. The biologically important element P is produced at its highest abundance in the same regions. Proxies should be detectable in supernova ejecta with high spatial resolution multiwavelength observations.