SNR G298.6−0.0 is an old supernova remnant interacting with molecular clouds, study finds

Japanese astronomers have carried out long-term multiwavelength observations of a supernova remnant (SNR) designated SNR G298.6−0.0. They discovered that G298.6−0.0 is an previous SNR interacting with molecular clouds. The brand new findings had been detailed in a paper revealed December 4 on the arXiv pre-print server.

SNRs are diffuse, increasing constructions ensuing from a supernova explosion. They comprise ejected materials increasing from the explosion and different interstellar materials that has been swept up by the passage of the shockwave from the exploded star.

Research of supernova remnants are essential for astronomers, as they play a key function within the evolution of galaxies, dispersing the heavy elements made within the supernova explosion and offering the power wanted for heating up the interstellar medium. SNRs are additionally believed to be liable for the acceleration of galactic cosmic rays.

SNR G298.6−0.0 is a Galactic supernova remnant with a flat radio spectral index of -0.3, situated in a posh area close to two vibrant prolonged areas of ionized atomic hydrogen (H II). Earlier observations of SNR G298.6−0.0 have discovered that the remnant is related to an prolonged GeV gamma-ray supply, designated 4FGL J1213.3−6240e, and recognized a centrally crammed X-ray construction contained in the radio shell, indicating a blended morphology.

Now, a bunch of astronomers led by Paul Ok. H. Yeung of the College of Tokyo in Japan, presents the outcomes of a long-term monitoring marketing campaign of SNR G298.6−0.0 that was launched in 2008 and lasted practically 14 years. The principle goal of those observations, using primarily NASA’s Fermi spacecraft, was to comprehensively examine multiwavelength properties of this SNR.

The observations present that 4FGL J1213.3−6240e consists of three point-like parts, designated Src-NE, Src-NW and Src-S. Src-NE has a a lot greater spectral peak power than Src-S, and the two–300 GeV photon index of Src-NE is considerably softer than that of Src-S. In accordance with the researchers, such variations within the spectral form level to completely different origins of the accountable cosmic rays.

The examine discovered that Src-NE and SrcNW show spectral breaks at energies of round 1.8 GeV, which means that SNR G298.6−0.0 is a minimum of 10,000 years previous. The kinematic distance to SNR G298.6−0.0 was estimated to be about 33,000 gentle years, yielding a bodily radius of the remnant of roughly 50.5 light years. Such a big bodily dimension additional confirms the previous age of this SNR.

Moreover, the analysis recognized dense molecular clouds within the environment of SNR G298.6−0.0. The observations recommend that the remnant is interacting with these clouds. The authors of the paper assume that the molecular clouds might probably account for the gamma-ray emission of the parts Src-NE, Src-NW and Src-S.

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