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Paper: Chandra Observations of the Oxygen-rich Supernova Remnant MSH 11-54 (G292.0+1.8)
Volume: 262, The High Energy Universe at Sharp Focus: Chandra Science
Page: 315
Authors: Safi-Harb, S.; Gonzalez, M. E.
Abstract: MSH 11-54 (G292.0+1.8) has been classified as an Oxygen-rich Supernova Remnant (SNR) with an unusual central bar-like feature in X-rays, and a centrally filled morphology in the radio and hard X-ray energies, hinting at the presence of a pulsar (Torii, Tsunemi, and Slane 1998). We present archival observations of this composite-type SNR obtained with the CHANDRA X-ray observatory. The ~8-arcminute diameter SNR falls nicely on the S3 (back-illuminated chip) of ACIS. The broadband (0.3-10 keV) image of MSH 11-54 has a strikingly similar morphology to the SNR Cas A, and reveals a network of arcsecond-scale filaments and knots, dominated by line emission. Our spatially resolved spectroscopy reveals a multi-temperature plasma that hasn't fully reached ionization equilibrium, and indicates a young age for the remnant. We will present a color-coded and lines images, tracing the distribution of the X-ray emitting ejecta and the non-thermal emission from the SNR. At the soft energies (below 4 keV), the SNR is dominated by line emission from O, Ne, Mg, Si, and S. The hard band image (E > 4keV) reveals a nebula surrounding a putative pulsar, adding a new candidate to the growing list of PSRs/SNRs associations.
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