No Arabic abstract
We present 1 to 10GHz radio continuum flux density, spectral index, polarisation and Rotation Measure (RM) images of the youngest known Galactic Supernova Remnant (SNR) G1.9+0.3, using observations from the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA). We have conducted an expansion study spanning 8 epochs between 1984 and 2017, yielding results consistent with previous expansion studies of G1.9+0.3. We find a mean radio continuum expansion rate of ($0.78 pm 0.09$) per cent year$^{-1}$ (or $sim8900$ km s$^{-1}$ at an assumed distance of 8.5 kpc), although the expansion rate varies across the SNR perimeter. In the case of the most recent epoch between 2016 and 2017, we observe faster-than-expected expansion of the northern region. We find a global spectral index for G1.9+0.3 of $-0.81pm0.02$ (76 MHz$-$10 GHz). Towards the northern region, however, the radio spectrum is observed to steepen significantly ($sim -$1). Towards the two so called (east & west) ears of G1.9+0.3, we find very different RM values of 400-600 rad m$^{2}$ and 100-200 rad m$^{2}$ respectively. The fractional polarisation of the radio continuum emission reaches (19 $pm$ 2)~per~cent, consistent with other, slightly older, SNRs such as Cas~A.
G1.9+0.3 is the youngest known Galactic supernova remnant (SNR), with an estimated supernova (SN) explosion date of about 1900, and most likely located near the Galactic Center. Only the outermost ejecta layers with free-expansion velocities larger than about 18,000 km/s have been shocked so far in this dynamically young, likely Type Ia SNR. A long (980 ks) Chandra observation in 2011 allowed spatially-resolved spectroscopy of heavy-element ejecta. We denoised Chandra data with the spatio-spectral method of Krishnamurthy et al., and used a wavelet-based technique to spatially localize thermal emission produced by intermediate-mass elements (IMEs: Si and S) and iron. The spatial distribution of both IMEs and Fe is extremely asymmetric, with the strongest ejecta emission in the northern rim. Fe Kalpha emission is particularly prominent there, and fits with thermal models indicate strongly oversolar Fe abundances. In a localized, outlying region in the northern rim, IMEs are less abundant than Fe, indicating that undiluted Fe-group elements (including 56Ni) with velocities larger than 18,000 km/s were ejected by this SN. But in the inner west rim, we find Si- and S-rich ejecta without any traces of Fe, so high-velocity products of O-burning were also ejected. G1.9+0.3 appears similar to energetic Type Ia SNe such as SN 2010jn where iron-group elements at such high free-expansion velocities have been recently detected. The pronounced asymmetry in the ejecta distribution and abundance inhomogeneities are best explained by a strongly asymmetric SN explosion, similar to those produced in some recent 3D delayed-detonation Type Ia models.
We report measurements of X-ray expansion of the youngest Galactic supernova remnant, G1.9+0.3, using Chandra observations in 2007, 2009, and 2011. The measured rates strongly deviate from uniform expansion, decreasing radially by about 60% along the X-ray bright SE-NW axis from 0.84% +/- 0.06% per yr to 0.52% +/- 0.03% per yr. This corresponds to undecelerated ages of 120-190 yr, confirming the young age of G1.9+0.3, and implying a significant deceleration of the blast wave. The synchrotron-dominated X-ray emission brightens at a rate of 1.9% +/- 0.4% per yr. We identify bright outer and inner rims with the blast wave and reverse shock, respectively. Sharp density gradients in either ejecta or ambient medium are required to produce the sudden deceleration of the reverse shock or the blast wave implied by the large spread in expansion ages. The blast wave could have been decelerated recently by an encounter with a modest density discontinuity in the ambient medium, such as found at a wind termination shock, requiring strong mass loss in the progenitor. Alternatively, the reverse shock might have encountered an order-of-magnitude density discontinuity within the ejecta, such as found in pulsating delayed-detonation Type Ia models. We demonstrate that the blast wave is much more decelerated than the reverse shock in these models for remnants at ages similar to G1.9+0.3. Similar effects may also be produced by dense shells possibly associated with high-velocity features in Type Ia spectra. Accounting for the asymmetry of G1.9+0.3 will require more realistic 3D Type Ia models.
The youngest Galactic supernova remnant (SNR) G1.9+0.3, produced by a (probable) SN Ia that exploded $sim 1900$ CE, is strongly asymmetric at radio wavelengths, much brighter in the north, but bilaterally symmetric in X-rays. We present the results of X-ray expansion measurements that illuminate the origin of the radio asymmetry. We confirm the mean expansion rate (2011 to 2015) of 0.58% per year, but large spatial variations are present. Using the nonparametric Demons method, we measure the velocity field throughout the entire SNR, finding that motions vary by a factor of 5, from 0.09 to 0.44 per year. The slowest shocks are at the outer boundary of the bright northern radio rim, with velocities $v_s$ as low as 3,600 km/s (for an assumed distance of 8.5 kpc), much less than $v_s = 12,000 - 13,000$ km/s along the X-ray-bright major axis. Such strong deceleration of the northern blast wave most likely arises from the collision of SN ejecta with a much denser than average ambient medium there. This asymmetric ambient medium naturally explains the radio asymmetry. In several locations, significant morphological changes and strongly nonradial motions are apparent. The spatially-integrated X-ray flux continues to increase with time. Based on Chandra observations spanning 8.3 years, we measure its increase at 1.3% +/- 0.8% per year. The SN ejecta are likely colliding with the asymmetric circumstellar medium ejected by the SN progenitor prior to its explosion.
We report the discovery of thermal X-ray emission from the youngest Galactic supernova remnant G1.9+0.3, from a 237-ks Chandra observation. We detect strong K-shell lines of Si, S, Ar, Ca, and Fe. In addition, we detect a 4.1 keV line with 99.971% confidence which we attribute to 44Sc, produced by electron capture from 44Ti. Combining the data with our earlier Chandra observation allows us to detect the line in two regions independently. For a remnant age of 100 yr, our measured total line strength indicates synthesis of $(1 - 7) times 10^{-5}$ solar masses of 44Ti, in the range predicted for both Type Ia and core-collapse supernovae, but somewhat smaller than the $2 times 10^{-4}$ solar masses reported for Cas A. The line spectrum indicates supersolar abundances. The Fe emission has a width of about 28,000 km/s, consistent with an age of about 100 yr and with the inferred mean shock velocity of 14,000 km/s deduced assuming a distance of 8.5 kpc. Most thermal emission comes from regions of lower X-ray but higher radio surface brightness. Deeper observations should allow more detailed spatial mapping of scandium, with significant implications for models of nucleosynthesis in Type Ia supernovae.
The radio source G1.9+0.3 has recently been identified as the youngest known Galactic supernova remnant, with a putative age of ~100 years. We present a radio light curve for G1.9+0.3 based on 25 epochs of observation with the Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope, spanning 20 years from 1988 to 2007. These observations are all at the same frequency (843 MHz) and comparable resolutions (43 x 91 or 43 x 95) and cover one fifth of the estimated lifetime of the supernova remnant. We find that the flux density has increased at a rate of 1.22 +0.24/-0.16 per cent per year over the last two decades, suggesting that G1.9+0.3 is undergoing a period of magnetic field amplification.