Supernova Remnant Candidates for the Soft gamma -Ray Repeater 1900+14
Abstract
Motivated by the association of two soft gamma-ray repeaters (SGRs) with supernova remnants (SNR) we have carried out radio, optical and X-ray studies of two cataloged SNRs in the large KONUS error box 11 deg x 8 min of SGR 1900+14. Our very large array (VLA) observations of SNR G43.9+1.6 do not reveal any obvious plerionic component. A radio flat-spectrum source, close to, but outside the error box was found. We suggest this to be a distant H II region foreground to the SNR. A sensitive VLA image at meter wavelengths show that the other SNR, G42.8+0.6, is an ordinary typical SNR with a shell morphology with no peculiarities such as a plerionic component. No ROSAT source with an apparent flux greater than or approximately 10-13 ergs cm-2 s-1 is found within the two SNRs. Recently, Hurley et al. have reported a new very small error box close to G42.8+0.6. There is no radio feature within or close to the error box. However, a ROSAT source is found just outside this localization. We speculate that this is the quiescent X-ray counterpart of SGR 1900+14. We suggest that SGR 1900+14 is a neutron star that was born with high speed which has now overtaken the expanding shell of SNR G42.8+0.6. Owing to the low confining pressure, there has been no development of a synchrotron bubble which explains the absence of the radio plerion. In our picture, SGR 1900+14 is the oldest known SGR.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- August 1994
- DOI:
- 10.1086/187466
- Bibcode:
- 1994ApJ...431L..35V
- Keywords:
-
- Gamma Ray Bursts;
- Radio Emission;
- Radio Sources (Astronomy);
- Supernova Remnants;
- Supernovae;
- Astronomical Catalogs;
- Calorimeters;
- Rosat Mission;
- Stellar Luminosity;
- Astrophysics;
- GAMMA RAYS: BURSTS;
- ISM: INDIVIDUAL ALPHANUMERIC: G43.9;
- 1.6;
- ISM: INDIVIDUAL ALPHANUMERIC: G42.8-0.6;
- ISM: SUPERNOVA REMNANTS