The hard x-ray spectrum of SN 1987A

The authors report the discovery of hard x-rays in the energy range from 20 to 350 keV. The hard x-rays were first observed on August 10, 1987 and thereafter SN 1987A became the main target of the observatory. The measured spectrum is extremely hard. At high energies the photon spectrum has a power law index of ∼ 1.4. At lower energies the spectrum becomes flatter and there is indication of a cut-off below 25 keV. The luminosity in the above energy band is ∼ 2 x 1038 erg/s. The flux shows little variation between August 10 and beginning of October