ALMA observations shed more light on molecular clouds associated with supernova remnant LHA 120-N49

Utilizing the Atacama Massive Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA), a world group of astronomers has noticed a supernova remnant often called LHA 120-N49. Outcomes of the observational marketing campaign, published November 3 on the pre-print server arXiv, present essential insights into the character and properties of molecular clouds related to this remnant.

Supernova remnants (SNRs) are diffuse, increasing buildings ensuing from a supernova explosion. Observations present that SNRs comprise increasing materials that was expelled throughout the explosion, in addition to interstellar matter collected because it was swept up by the shockwave produced by the exploded star.

Research of supernova remnants are necessary for astronomers, as they’ve a vital affect on the evolution of galaxies, dispersing the heavy elements made within the supernova explosion and offering the power wanted for heating up the interstellar medium. Furthermore, SNRs are assumed to be accountable for the acceleration of galactic cosmic rays.

LHA 120-N49 (or N49) is a vibrant X-ray supernova remnant within the Massive Magellanic Cloud (LMC) with an obvious diameter of about 59 gentle years. The remnant has an age of about 4,800 years and its explosion power is estimated to be at a degree of 1.8 sexdecillion erg.

Earlier observations have discovered that the surroundings of N49 incorporates molecular clouds and younger stellar clusters. It seems that the shockwave from the SNR is interacting with dense clumpy interstellar clouds on the remnant’s japanese aspect. Just lately, a group of astronomers led by Hidetoshi Sano of the Gifu College in Japan, determined to make use of ALMA to analyze this interplay.

“We carried out observations of ¹²CO(J = 3–2) emission line utilizing the ALMA Atacama Compact Array Band 7 in Cycle 8. We used 10–11 antennas of the 7-m array in 2022 August 22, 27, 30, and September 2. We additionally used 3–4 antennas of the Complete Energy (TP) array in 2022 August 2, 4, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 20, and 27,” the researchers defined.

ALMA observations have revealed clumpy distributions of molecular clouds related to N49. The clouds seem to fully delineate the southeastern fringe of the remnant’s shell and present a high-intensity ratio of the investigated emission traces. This implies that shock-cloud interactions have occurred.

In total, eight molecular clouds have been recognized within the neighborhood of N49. The kinetic temperature and quantity density of molecular hydrogen of those clouds additional point out that they have been attributable to supernova shocks. The astronomers famous that that is the primary proof of shock-heated molecular clouds in an extragalactic supernova remnant.

The examine additionally discovered that 5 molecular clouds have fixed stress and didn’t expertise shock evaporation throughout the existence of N49. The opposite three most definitely partially evaporated via the shock-cloud interplay.

© 2023 Science X Community