Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Aug 1996
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1996apj...467..698r&link_type=abstract
Astrophysical Journal v.467, p.698
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
31
Shock Waves, Ism: Individual Alphanumeric: 3C 391, Ism: Supernova Remnants, X-Rays: Ism
Scientific paper
The supernova remnant 3C 391 (G3 1.9+0.0) was observed using the ROSAT Position Sensitive Proportional Counter (PSPC). The PSPC image reveals centrally concentrated X-ray emission inside the radio shell, anticorrelated with the radio image. The northwestern half of the remnant has a strong radio shell and weak, centrally concentrated X-ray emission. In contrast, the southeastern half has strong central X-ray emission and weak radio emission. A spectral analysis combining PSPC and Einstein IPC data indicates that the X-ray emission arises from a thermal plasma that has not attained ionization equilibrium, though a nonthermal model can be rejected only with 90% confidence. There is evidence, at the 90% confidence level, of slightly enhanced abundances of the intermediate α-burning elements, Mg, Si, and S. The best-fit NH is 2.4 x 1022 and kT is 0.5 keV (T = 5.9 x 106 K). The centrally concentrated morphology and the probable thermal origin of the X-ray emission along with the radio shell suggest that 3C 391 is similar to W44 and W28.
There are spectral variations between the northwestern and southeastern parts of the remnant: either the northwest has higher NH or the southeastern part has lower temperature, the former being more consistent with the X-ray morphology. The difference in NH is large enough to account for the reduced X-ray surface brightness in the northwest, and the density in the northwest is higher than that in the southeastern shell. The X-ray data are consistent with the idea that the progenitor supernova has exploded just inside a molecular cloud, but close to the edge. The northwestern structure is created by the propagation of the supernova shock into the cloud while the enhanced central X-ray emission arises from evaporation of clumps from the edge of the cloud trapped within the remnant. The southeastern radio and X-ray emission represent a "breakout" of the shock into low-density, intercloud material.
Petre Rob
Rho Joon H.
No associations
LandOfFree
ROSAT PSPC Observation of the Supernova Remnant 3C 391 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 ROSAT PSPC Observation of the Supernova Remnant 3C 391, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and ROSAT PSPC Observation of the Supernova Remnant 3C 391 will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1449399