Revealing New Physical Structures in the Supernova Remnant N63A through Chandra Imaging Spectroscopy

Details Revealing New Physical Structures in the Supernova Remnant N63A through Chandra Imaging Spectroscopy Revealing New Physical Structures in the Supernova Remnant N63A through Chandra Imaging Spectroscopy

2002-09-18

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0209370v1

Astrophys.J. 583 (2003) 260-266

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

18 pages, 5 figures (2 color), accepted for publication in ApJ

Scientific paper

10.1086/345078

We present Chandra X-ray observations of the supernova remnant (SNR) N63A in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). N63A, one of the brightest LMC remnants, is embedded in an H II region and probably associated with an OB association. The optical remnant consists of three lobes of emission contained within the approximately three times larger X-ray remnant. Our Chandra data reveal a number of new physical structures in N63A. The most striking of these are the several ``crescent''-shaped structures located beyond the main shell that resemble similar features seen in the Vela SNR. In Vela, these have been interpreted as arising from high speed clumps of supernova ejecta interacting with the ambient medium. Another distinct feature of the remnant is a roughly triangular ``hole'' in the X-ray emission near the location of the optical lobes and the brightest radio emission. X-ray spectral analysis shows that this deficit of emission is a result of absorption by an intervening dense cloud with a mass of ~450 M_sun that is currently being engulfed by the remnant's blast wave. We also find that the rim of the remnant, as well as the crescent-shaped features, have considerably softer X-ray spectra than the interior. Limits on hard X-ray emission rule out a young, energetic pulsar in N63A, but the presence of an older or less active one, powering a wind nebula with a luminosity less than ~4e10^34 erg/s, is allowed.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Revealing New Physical Structures in the Supernova Remnant N63A through Chandra Imaging Spectroscopy does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Revealing New Physical Structures in the Supernova Remnant N63A through Chandra Imaging Spectroscopy, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Revealing New Physical Structures in the Supernova Remnant N63A through Chandra Imaging Spectroscopy will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-196044