A CHANDRA OBSERVATION OF SNR 0540 - 697

Journal Article · Thu Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2010 · Astronomical Journal (New York, N.Y. Online)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-6256/140/1/177· OSTI ID:21443295

Seward, F D ^[1]; Williams, R M ^[2]; Chu, Y -H; Gruendl, R A ^[3]; Dickel, J R ^[4]

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1. MS4, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, 60 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 (United States)
2. Department of Chemistry and Geology, Columbus State University, Coca Cola Space Science Center, 701 Front Avenue, Columbus, GA 31901 (United States)
3. Department of Astronomy, University of Illinois, 1002 West Green Street, Urbana, IL 61801 (United States)
4. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico, 800 Yale Boulevard NE, Albuquerque, NM 87131 (United States)

This paper describes a Chandra observation of SNR 0540 - 697 within the H II complex N159 in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). Scattering from the nearby bright source LMC X-1, which obscures the western edge of the remnant, has been removed. Larger than previously believed, the 2.'0 x 2.'8 remnant is defined by optical filaments and two lobes of X-ray emission. A band of intervening material absorbs X-rays from the central part of the remnant. The N Lobe of the remnant is relatively bright and well defined, while emission from the S Lobe is much weaker. There is structure within the N Lobe but no clear X-ray emission from an outer shell indicating a shock in the interstellar medium. The X-ray spectrum is thermal with emission lines from Fe, Mg, and Si. The observed temperature and luminosity of the hot gas are 0.6 keV and 6 x 10{sup 35} erg s{sup -1}, respectively. These are consistent with characteristics expected for older remnants. There is also diffuse thermal X-ray emission north of N159 extending into N160, evidence for a larger remnant or bubble.

• OSTI ID: 21443295
• Journal Information: Astronomical Journal (New York, N.Y. Online), Vol. 140, Issue 1; Other Information: DOI: 10.1088/0004-6256/140/1/177; ISSN 1538-3881
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTROPHYSICS
COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
IMAGE PROCESSING
LUMINOSITY
MAGELLANIC CLOUDS
PHOTON EMISSION
SUPERNOVA REMNANTS
X RADIATION
X-RAY SPECTRA
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EMISSION
GALAXIES
IONIZING RADIATIONS
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PROCESSING
RADIATIONS
SPECTRA