A Study of Supernova Remnants with Center-Filled X-Ray Morphology

CTA 1 is a center-filled supernova remnant (SNR) whose morphology and spectrum indicate the presence of a central pulsar, a synchrotron nebula, and a thermal component associated with the expansion of the blast wave into the interstellar medium. The centrally bright emission surrounds the position of a faint point source of x-rays observed with the ROSAT PSPC. Here we report on ASCA observations that confirm the nonthermal nature of the diffuse emission from the central regions of the remnant. We also present evidence for weak thermal emission that appears to increase in strength toward the outer boundary of the SNR. Thus, CTA 1 appears to be an x-ray composite remnant. Both the aftermath of the explosive supernova event and the energetic compact core are observable

ASCA Observation of the Crab-Like Supernova Remnant 3C58

We present here the X-ray observation of a Crab-like supernova remnant (SNR) 3C58 with ASCA. We find that the integrated energy spectrum over the nebula is consistent with previous results, showing a power-law spectrum with the photon index $\gamma = 2.2-2.4$ modified by interstellar absorption of about $(3-4)\times 10^{21}{\rm cm^{-2}}$. Inclusion of a blackbody component which is attributable to the central compact source significantly improves the spectral fit. Stringent upper limits for any line emitting thin hot plasma are established. We find for the first time that the nebular spectrum is harder in the central part of the SNR, becoming softer toward the periphery, while the absorption column is uniform across the nebula. Correspondingly, the nebular size decreases with increasing photon energy which is a steeper function of radius than that of the Crab nebula. The results are compared with synchrotron energy loss models and the nature of the putative pulsar is discussed. Timing analysis was performed to search for pulsed X-ray emission from the central compact source. No significant pulsations are observed, and we present the upper limit for the pulsed fraction.Comment: 27 pages, 7 figures, to appear in PAS

Serendipitous Discovery of An Infrared Bow Shock Near PSR J1549-4848 with Spitzer

We report on the discovery of an infrared cometary nebula around PSR J1549$-$4848 in our Spitzer survey of a few middle-aged radio pulsars. Following the discovery, multi-wavelength imaging and spectroscopic observations of the nebula were carried out. We detected the nebula in Spitzer IRAC 8.0, MIPS 24 and 70 $\mu$m imaging and in Spitzer IRS 7.5--14.4 $\mu$m spectroscopic observations, and also in the WISE all-sky survey at 12 and 22 $\mu$m.These data were analyzed in detail, and we find that the nebula can be described with a standard bow-shock shape, and that its spectrum contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and H$_2$ emission features. However, it is not certain which object drives the nebula. We analyze the field stars and conclude that none of them can be the associated object because stars with a strong wind or mass ejection that usually produce bow shocks are much brighter than the field stars. The pulsar is approximately 15\arcsec\ away from the region in which the associated object is expected to be located. In order to resolve the discrepancy, we suggest that a highly collimated wind could be emitted from the pulsar and produce the bow shock. X-ray imaging to detect the interaction of the wind with the ambient medium and high-spatial resolution radio imaging to determine the proper motion of the pulsar should be carried out, which will help verify the association of the pulsar with the bow shock nebula.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Ap

A CR-hydro-NEI Model of Multi-wavelength Emission from the Vela Jr. Supernova Remnant (SNR RX J0852.0-4622)

Based largely on energy budget considerations and the observed cosmic-ray (CR) ionic composition, supernova remnant (SNR) blast waves are the most likely sources of CR ions with energies at least up to the "knee" near 3 PeV. Shocks in young shell-type TeV-bright SNRs are surely producing TeV particles, but the emission could be dominated by ions producing neutral pion-decay emission or electrons producing inverse-Compton gamma-rays. Unambiguously identifying the GeV-TeV emission process in a particular SNR will not only help pin down the origin of CRs, it will add significantly to our understanding of the diffusive shock acceleration (DSA) mechanism and improve our understanding of supernovae and the impact SNRs have on the circumstellar medium. In this study, we investigate the Vela Jr. SNR, an example of TeV-bright non-thermal SNRs. We perform hydrodynamic simulations coupled with non-linear DSA and non-equilibrium ionization near the forward shock (FS) to confront currently available multi-wavelength data. We find, with an analysis similar to that used earlier for SNR RX J1713.7-3946, that self-consistently modeling the thermal X-ray line emission with the non-thermal continuum in our one-dimensional model strongly constrains the fitting parameters, and this leads convincingly to a leptonic origin for the GeV-TeV emission for Vela Jr. This conclusion is further supported by applying additional constraints from observation, including the radial brightness profiles of the SNR shell in TeV gamma-rays, and the spatial variation of the X-ray synchrotron spectral index. We will discuss implications of our models on future observations by the next-generation telescopes.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures, to appear at the Astrophysical Journa

Supernova Remnant Kes 17: Efficient Cosmic Ray Accelerator inside a Molecular Cloud

Supernova remnant Kes 17 (SNR G304.6+0.1) is one of a few but growing number of remnants detected across the electromagnetic spectrum. In this paper, we analyze recent radio, X-ray, and gamma-ray observations of this object, determining that efficient cosmic ray acceleration is required to explain its broadband non-thermal spectrum. These observations also suggest that Kes 17 is expanding inside a molecular cloud, though our determination of its age depends on whether thermal conduction or clump evaporation is primarily responsible for its center-filled thermal X-ray morphology. Evidence for efficient cosmic ray acceleration in Kes 17 supports recent theoretical work that the strong magnetic field, turbulence, and clumpy nature of molecular clouds enhances cosmic ray production in supernova remnants. While additional observations are needed to confirm this interpretation, further study of Kes 17 is important for understanding how cosmic rays are accelerated in supernova remnants.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures, 4 table

A Chandra View Of Nonthermal Emission In The Northwestern Region Of Supernova Remnant RCW 86: Particle Acceleration And Magnetic Fields

The shocks of supernova remnants (SNRs) are believed to accelerate particles to cosmic ray (CR) energies. The amplification of the magnetic field due to CRs propagating in the shock region is expected to have an impact on both the emission from the accelerated particle population, as well as the acceleration process itself. Using a 95 ks observation with the Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer (ACIS) onboard the Chandra X-ray Observatory, we map and characterize the synchrotron emitting material in the northwestern region of RCW 86. We model spectra from several different regions, filamentary and diffuse alike, where emission appears dominated by synchrotron radiation. The fine spatial resolution of Chandra allows us to obtain accurate emission profiles across 3 different non-thermal rims in this region. The narrow width (l = 10''-30'') of these filaments constrains the minimum magnetic field strength at the post-shock region to be approximately 80 {\mu}G.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, submitted for publication at the Astrophysical Journa