Modelling of high resolution Balmer line profiles in the early-time spectra
of SN 1998S shows that the inferred fast (roughly 400 km/s) circumstellar (CS)
gas on days 23 and 42 post-explosion is confined to a narrow, negative velocity
gradient shell just above the photosphere. This gas may be identified with a
slow (v < 40 km/s) progenitor wind accelerated at the ejecta-wind interface. In
this scenario, the photosphere coincides with a cool dense shell formed in the
reverse shock. Acceleration by radiation from the supernova or by a
shock-accelerated relativistic particle precursor are both possible
explanations for the observed fast CS gas. An alternative, equally plausible
scenario is that the fast CS gas is accelerated within shocked clouds engulfed
by the outer shock, as it propagates through the intercloud wind.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures. MNRAS, accepted. Typos added, acknowledgments
correcte