Multi-frequency Observations of a Superbubble in the LMC: The Case of LHA 120-N 70
Abstract
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 X) and warm (P_{{H\,\scriptsize{II}}}) phases are consistent with other studied H II regions. However, the dust-processed radiation pressure (P 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.
- Publication:
-
The Astronomical Journal
- Pub Date:
- June 2014
- DOI:
- 10.1088/0004-6256/147/6/162
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1404.3823
- Bibcode:
- 2014AJ....147..162D
- Keywords:
-
- galaxies: individual: LMC;
- ISM: bubbles;
- ISM: individual objects: SBN70;
- ISM: supernova remnants;
- radio continuum: ISM;
- X-rays: ISM;
- Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena;
- Astrophysics - Astrophysics of Galaxies
- E-Print:
- 21 pages 8 figures accepted for publication in AJ