Sign on

SAO/NASA ADS Astronomy Abstract Service

· Find Similar Abstracts (with default settings below)
· Electronic Refereed Journal Article (HTML)
· Full Refereed Journal Article (PDF/Postscript)
· arXiv e-print (arXiv:astro-ph/0006149)
· On-line Data
· References in the article
· Citations to the Article (46) (Citation History)
· Refereed Citations to the Article
· SIMBAD Objects (3)
· Also-Read Articles (Reads History)
·
· Translate This Page
Title:
Thermal and Nonthermal X-Ray Emission in Supernova Remnant RCW 86
Authors:
Borkowski, Kazimierz J.; Rho, Jeonghee; Reynolds, Stephen P.; Dyer, Kristy K.
Affiliation:
AA(Department of Physics, North Carolina State University, Box 8202, Raleigh, NC 27695; ), AB(IPAC, California Institute of Technology, 770 South Wilson Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91125; ), AC(Department of Physics, North Carolina State University, Box 8202, Raleigh, NC 27695; , ), AD(Department of Physics, North Carolina State University, Box 8202, Raleigh, NC 27695; , )
Publication:
The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 550, Issue 1, pp. 334-345. (ApJ Homepage)
Publication Date:
03/2001
Origin:
UCP
ApJ Keywords:
ISM: individual (RCW 86), ISM: Supernova Remnants, X-Rays: ISM
DOI:
10.1086/319716
Bibliographic Code:
2001ApJ...550..334B

Abstract

Supernova remnants may exhibit both thermal and nonthermal X-ray emission. Such remnants can be distinguished by the weakness of their X-ray lines because of the presence of a strong nonthermal X-ray continuum. RCW 86 is a remnant with weak lines, resulting in low and peculiar abundances when thermal models alone are used to interpret its X-ray spectrum. This indicates the presence of a strong nonthermal synchrotron continuum. We analyze ASCA X-ray spectra of RCW 86 with the help of both nonequilibrium ionization thermal models and nonthermal synchrotron models. A two-temperature thermal model and a simple nonthermal model with an exponential cutoff (plus interstellar absorption) give reasonable results. We obtain a blast-wave velocity of 800 km s-1, a shock ionization age of 1×1011-3×1011 cm-3 s, and the break in nonthermal spectra at 2×1016-4×1016 Hz. The strength of the nonthermal continuum correlates well with the radio brightness in the bright southwest section of the remnant. This is convincing evidence for X-ray synchrotron emission in RCW 86.
Bibtex entry for this abstract   Preferred format for this abstract (see Preferences)
   

Find Similar Abstracts:

Use: Authors
Title
Keywords (in text query field)
Abstract Text
Return: Query Results Return    items starting with number
Query Form
Database: Astronomy
Physics
arXiv e-prints