| |
 |
| Paper: |
Exploring the Central Region of SNR J0852.0-4622 and a Search for an Optical Counterpart |
| Volume: |
271, Neutron Stars in Supernova Remnants |
| Page: |
293 |
| Authors: |
Kiziltan, B.; Pavlov, G. G.; Sanwal, D.; Garmire, G. P. |
| Abstract: |
The central region of the recently discovered supernova remnant RX J0852.0-4622 was observed with the ACIS detector aboard the Chandra X-ray Observatory. We found only one relatively bright source, about 4' north of the SNR center, with a flux of ~2 x 10-12 erg/s/cm2 in the 0.5-10 keV band. The position of this point-like source, CXOU J085201.4-461753, rules out its association with the two bright stars in the field, HD 76060 and Wray 16-30. Observations of the field with the CTIO 0.9-m telescope show a star (R ~ 17, B ~ 19) at about 2.4 arcsec from the nominal X-ray position. We consider association of this star with the X-ray source unlikely and estimate a limiting magnitude of the optical counterpart as B >= 22.5 and R >= 21.0. Based on the X-ray-to-optical flux ratio, we argue that the X-ray source is likely the compact remnant of the supernova explosion that created the RX J0852.0-4622 SNR. The observed X-ray spectrum of the source is softer than spectra of magnetospheric radiation of rotation-powered pulsars, but it is harder than spectra of cooling neutron stars emitting thermal radiation from the entire surface, similar to the central compact source of the Cas A SNR. We suggest that CXOU J085201.4-461753 belongs to the growing family of radio-quiet compact central sources, presumably neutron stars, recently discovered in a number of SNRs. |
|
|
|
|
|
