Astronomers from Curtin College in Australia and elsewhere report the detection of a brand new supernova remnant (SNR) positioned some 3,300 mild years away. The newfound SNR, designated G321.3-3.9, has an elliptical form and is estimated to be a number of thousand years previous. The discovering was detailed in a paper published Jan. 30 on the pre-print server arXiv.
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 vitality wanted for heating up the interstellar medium. SNRs are additionally believed to be liable for the acceleration of galactic cosmic rays.
The prolonged supply G321.3-3.9 was labeled as an SNR candidate in 1997. Earlier observations have revealed that it’s an elliptical and nearly full shell with a measurement of 109×64 arcmin2, peak flux of 10 mJy/beam and total built-in flux density higher than 0.37 Jy.
Now, a workforce of astronomers led by Curtin College’s Silvia Mantovanini has analyzed a wealth of radio and X-ray knowledge from varied surveys and in addition from the Spektr-RG spacecraft, which confirmed the SNR standing of G321.3-3.9 in consequence.
In keeping with the research, G321.3-3.9 reveals an prolonged construction at low X-ray energies surrounded by a radio shell, and it doesn’t current any diffuse emission in infrared. The spectral index of the supply was measured to be -0.8, which is per non-thermal synchrotron emission in accordance with a shell-type SNR.
Based mostly on the collected knowledge, the researchers estimate that G321.3-3.9 is positioned between 2,300 and three,300 light years away. The gap estimates recommend that the SNR has a diameter of about 62–97 mild years and its age is throughout the vary of 1,700–4,000 years. Due to this fact, the assumed age is youthful than what is anticipated from the shell form and the low brightness at radio frequencies.
The astronomers be aware that these uncertainties are as a result of restricted photon statistic in X-rays and lack of affiliation between the shell and a identified pulsar. They add that not one of the pulsars positioned in the identical area have age or correct movement that may very well be associated to a supernova remnant of the dimensions of G321.3-3.9.
“We are going to carry out PARKES follow-up observations contained in the remnant shell within the radio band to search for a attainable pulsar affiliation. Profitable detection of pulsations would allow calculation of the dispersion measure and due to this fact the age and the space at which G321.3-3.9 is positioned, together with its growth velocity,” the scientists defined.
Extra data:
S. Mantovanini et al, G321.3-3.9: a brand new supernova remnant noticed with multi-band radio knowledge and within the SRG/eROSITA All-Sky Surveys, arXiv (2024). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2401.17294
Journal data:
arXiv
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