Multi-frequency observations of a superbubble in the LMC: The case of LHA 120-N 70
- University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith South DC, NSW 1797 (Australia)
We present a detailed study of new Australia Telescope Compact Array and XMM-Newton observations of LHA 120-N 70 (hereafter N 70), a spherically shaped object in the Large Magellanic Cloud, classified as a superbubble. Both archival and new observations were used to produce high quality radio continuum, X-ray, and optical images. The radio spectral index of N 70 is estimated to be α = –0.12 ± 0.06, indicating that while a supernova (SN) or supernovae have occurred in the region at some time in the distant past, N 70 is not the remnant of a single specific SN. N 70 exhibits limited polarization with a maximum fractional polarization of 9% in a small area of the northwest limb. We estimate the size of N 70 to have a diameter of 104 pc (±1 pc). The morphology of N 70 in X-rays closely follows that in radio and optical, with most X-ray emission confined within the bright shell seen at longer wavelengths. Purely thermal models adequately fit the soft X-ray spectrum which lacks harder emission (above 1 keV). We also examine the pressure output of N 70 where the values for the hot (P {sub X}) and warm (P{sub H} {sub II}) phases are consistent with other studied H II regions. However, the dust-processed radiation pressure (P {sub IR}) is significantly smaller than in any other object studied in Lopez et al. N 70 is a very complex region that is likely to have had multiple factors contributing to both the origin and evolution of the entire region.
- OSTI ID:
- 22340215
- Journal Information:
- Astronomical Journal (New York, N.Y. Online), Vol. 147, Issue 6; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1538-3881
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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