Pulsars: Space kinematic characteristics and their connection with supernova remnants

The galactic distribution of pulsars and shell remnants of supernovae (SN) as investigated on the basis of newly-estimated parameters. Special attention was paid to taking into account all possible selection effects and an attempt was made to reveal a statistically-pure ensemble of objects. On the basis of this ensemble we studied the radial andz-distribution of pulsars and supernova remnants (SNR).It is shown that the radial distribution of both objects is considered to have an annular structure with the maximum surface density at a distance of 4.5–5.3 kpc (if the distance of the Sun from the galactic centre is assumed to be equal to 8.5 kpc). The scle-height of the progenitors of SNRs is not more than 110 pc and only 15% of the SNRs, whose progenitors may also be massive runaway stars, are situated at 300 pc. The mean application of the pulsars is not more than 300 pc which agrees with the hypothesis about the genetic connection with type-II SN outbursts at the kinematic aget _k5×10⁶ yr and thez-component of spatial velocity beingV _z=120 km s^–1.The possible precursors of type-I SNRs by the shape of their radial distribution in late spirals and the various model calculations given in the literature, are also discussed.     

On the supernova remnants produced by pulsars

We conclude that pulsar-driven supernova remnants (SNRs) are extremely rare objects. Indeed an analysis of the known sample of plerions suggests a very low birthrate ∼ 1 in 240 years. Long-lived and bright plerions like the Crab nebula are likely to be produced only when the pulsar has an initial period ∼ 10–20 milliseconds and a field ∼ 10¹² G. Such pulsars inside rapidly expanding shell remnants should also produce detectable plerions. The extreme rarity of SNRs with such hybrid morphology leads us to conclude that these pulsars must have been born with an initial period larger than ∼ 35–70 milliseconds. Joint Astronomy Program, Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012.     

Σ–D relation for supernova remnants and its dependence on the density of the interstellar medium

During the last couple of decades of work on the  Σ– D   (radio surface brightness to diameter) relation for supernova remnants (SNRs), it has been generally accepted that no single  Σ– D   relation can be constructed for all SNRs. However, it may still be possible to construct the relations for some classes of SNRs. In our previous paper we analysed  Σ– D   relation(s) for remnants in the dense environments of molecular clouds. The aim of this paper is to examine, in the same context, a class of oxygen-rich SNRs, and to extend the analysis to remnants evolving in lower-density interstellar media, namely Balmer-dominated SNRs. We have obtained good relations with certain similarities to our previous findings – similarities that emphasize, again, the role of ambient density in the evolution of SNRs.     

Search for possible connections between isolated radio pulsars and supernova remnants

We have developed a method of searching for the connections between the isolated radio pulsars and supernova remnants, based on the analysis of their kinematic characteristics. We investigate fairly young (τ _ch ≲ 10⁶ yr) radio pulsars with known proper motions and estimated distances (dispersion measures), and supernova remnants located no more than 1–2 kpc away from them. Using a standard empirical radial velocity distribution, we have constructed 100–200 thousand trajectories for each of these pulsars, tracing back their possible motion in the Galactic gravitational field on a time-scale of a few million years. The probabilities of their close encounters with the SNRs at epochs consistent with the age of the pulsar are analyzed. When these probabilities exceed considerably their reference values, obtained by assuming a purely random encounter between the objects, we conclude that the pulsars may have originated in the SNRs under consideration. Out of eight preselected pairs of pulsar-SNR association candidates, two pairs, J 1829-1751 / G16.2-2.7 and J 1833-0827 / G24.7-0.6 may have a common origin with a high probability.     

Distribution of the diffuse component of cosmic soft X-rays

The celestial distribution of the intensity of diffuse soft X-rays is mapped by reference to a critical review of observations available. The soft X-rays of extragalactic origin are subtracted, taking the interstellar absorption into account. The distribution of the galactic component thus obtained shows irregularities, but the general behaviour can be accounted for in terms of a cylindrical distribution of the X-ray emissivity with the scale height of 100300 pc in the direction perpendicular to the galactic plane. Correlations with various celestial objects, such as supernova remnants, radio spurs, flaring stars, and so forth, are discussed.     

A study of the X-ray characteristics of mixed-morphology supernova remnants with 1720 MHz OH maser emission

Radio surveys of supernova remnants (SNRs) in the Galaxy have discovered 19 SNRs which are accompanied by the OH maser emission at 1720 MHz. This unusual maser is thought to be produced behind a shock front when a SNR expands into a molecular cloud. An important ingredient of this model is that the X-ray emission from the remnant enhances the production of OH molecules. In this sense, to study the characteristics of the mixed-morphology SNRs accompanied by the OH maser emission at 1720 MHz is important. By studying the X-ray characteristics of the mixed-morphology SNRs accompanied by the 1720 MHz OH maser emission, it is found that the ionization rate of X-ray is not correlated with the physical parameters , D, r, r² and so on, but is correlated with the X-ray luminosity L_x. Meanwhile, L_x is closely correlated with the beam flux density of the weakest feature of the accompanying 1720 MHz OH maser emission. These mean that the X-ray emission from SNRs is sufficient to dissociate the water molecules behind a shock front and to produce the 1720 MHz OH masers.     

Optical spectra of supernova remnant candidates in the Sculptor Group galaxy NGC 300

We present moderate-resolution (<5 Å) long-slit optical spectra of 51 nebular objects in the nearby Sculptor Group galaxy NGC 300 obtained with the 2.3 meter Advanced Technology Telescope at Siding Spring Observatory, Australia. Adopting the criterion of [S?ii]_Total:Hα≥0.4 to confirm supernova remnants (SNRs) from optical spectra, we find that of 28 objects previously proposed as SNRs from optical observations, 22 meet this criterion with six showing [S?ii]_Total:Hα of less than 0.4. Of 27 objects suggested as SNRs from radio data, four are associated with the 28 previously proposed SNRs. Of these four, three (included in the 22 above) meet the criterion. In all, 22 of the 51 nebular objects meet the [S ii]_Total:Hα criterion as SNRs while the nature of the remaining 29 objects remains undetermined by these observations.     

Gamma-ray emitting supernova remnants as the origin of Galactic cosmic rays?

The origin of cosmic rays is one of the long-standing mysteries in physics and astrophysics. Simple arguments suggest that a scenario of supernova remnants (SNRs) in the Milky Way as the dominant sources for the cosmic ray population below the knee could work: a generic calculation indicates that these objects can provide the energy budget necessary to explain the observed flux of cosmic rays. However, this argument is based on the assumption that all sources behave in the same way, i.e. they all have the same energy budget, spectral behavior and maximum energy. In this paper, we investigate if a realistic population of SNRs is capable of producing the cosmic ray flux as it is observed below the knee. We use 21 SNRs that are well-studied from radio wavelengths up to gamma-ray energies and derive cosmic ray spectra under the assumption of hadronic emission. The cosmic ray spectra show a large variety in their energy budget, spectral behavior and maximum energy. These sources are assumed to be representative for the total class of SNRs, where we assume that about 100–200 cosmic ray emitting SNRs should be present today. Finally, we use these source spectra to simulate the cosmic ray transport from individual SNRs in the Galaxy with the GALPROP code for cosmic ray propagation. We find that the cosmic ray budget can be matched well for these sources. We conclude that gamma-ray emitting SNRs can be a representative sample of cosmic ray emitting sources. In the future, experiments like CTA and HAWC will help to distinguish hadronic from leptonic sources and to further constrain the maximum energy of the sources and contribute to producing a fully representative sample in order to further investigate the possibility of SNRs being the dominant sources of cosmic rays up to the knee.     

On some prospects of UV observatories for studies of galaxies-IGM mass exchange

Two mechanisms of mass loss: galactic wind accompanied by the expulsion of supershell remnants and dust expelling from galaxies are briefly considered. Theoretically estimated parameters of the supershell fragments are similar to those of observed objects in vicinity of the Milky Way: small HI clouds and OIV structures observed with FUSE. Dust expelling brings dust in the IGM, and thus the analysis of intergalactic extinction curve will reveal a nature of the intergalactic dust. Evaporation of circumgalactic dust will change the chemical composition of gaseous galactic coronae. Ultraviolet observatories will have a significant impact on studies of these processes. Some prospects of such observations are outlined.     

Spectrum and anisotropy of cosmic rays at TeV–PeV-energies and contribution of nearby sources

The role of nearby galactic sources, the supernova remnants, in formation of observed energy spectrum and large-scale anisotropy of high-energy cosmic rays is studied. The list of these sources is made up based on radio, X-ray and gamma-ray catalogues. The distant sources are treated statistically as ensemble of sources with random positions and ages. The source spectra are defined based on the modern theory of cosmic ray acceleration in supernova remnants while the propagation of cosmic rays in the interstellar medium is described in the frameworks of galactic diffusion model. Calculations of dipole component of anisotropy are made to reproduce the experimental procedure of “two-dimensional” anisotropy measurements. The energy dependence of particle escape time in the process of acceleration in supernova remnants and the arm structure of sources defining the significant features of anisotropy are also taken into account. The essential new trait of the model is a decreasing number of core collapse SNRs being able to accelerate cosmic rays up to the given energy, that leads to steeper total cosmic ray source spectrum in comparison with the individual source spectrum. We explained simultaneously the new cosmic ray data on the fine structure of all particle spectrum around the knee and the amplitude and direction of the dipole component of anisotropy in the wide energy range 1 TeV–1 EeV. Suggested assumptions do not look exotic, and they confirm the modern understanding of cosmic ray origin.     

X-rays from cusps of compact remnants near galactic centres

Compact remnants – stellar mass black holes and neutron stars formed in the inner few parsec of galactic centres are predicted to sink into the central parsec due to dynamical friction on low-mass stars, forming a high concentration cusp. Same physical region may also contain very high-density molecular clouds and accretion discs that are needed to fuel supermassive black hole (SMBH) activity. Here we estimate gas capture rates on to the cusp of stellar remnants, and the resulting X-ray luminosity, as a function of the accretion disc mass. At low disc masses, most compact objects are too dim to be observable, whereas in the high disc case most of them are accreting at their Eddington rates. We find that for low accretion disc masses, compact remnant cusps may be more luminous than the central SMBHs. This 'diffuse' emission may be of importance for local moderately bright active galactic nuclei (AGNs), especially low-luminosity AGNs. We also briefly discuss how this expected emission can be used to put constraints on the black hole cusp near our Galactic Centre.     

Particle acceleration in supernova-remnant shocks

It has been known for over 50 years that the radio emission from shell supernova remnants (SNRs) indicates the presence of electrons with energies in the GeV range emitting synchrotron radiation. The discovery of nonthermal X-ray emission from supernova remnants is now 30 years old, and its interpretation as the extension of the radio synchrotron spectrum requires electrons with energies of up to 100 TeV. SNRs are now detected at GeV and TeV photon energies as well. Strong suggestions of the presence of energetic ions exist, but conclusive evidence remains elusive. Several arguments suggest that magnetic fields in SNRs are amplified by orders of magnitude from their values in the ambient interstellar medium. Supernova remnants are thus an excellent laboratory in which to study processes taking place in very high Mach-number shocks. I review the observations of high-energy emission from SNRs, and the theoretical framework in which those observations are interpreted.     

A comparison catalogue ofHii-regions

For complete information about the apparent distribution ofHii-regions along the whole galactic equator a Catalogue of 698 known emission nebulae is given on the basis of 13 lists and catalogues of these objects. The main catalogue used for the northern sky was that of Sharpless (1959) including 313 objects while the coverage of the southern sky can be characterized by a greater number of smaller catalogues represented in the first place by that of Rodgerset al. (1960) and that of Gum (1955). ForHii-regions, only optical data were taken into account.Where several authors describe the complex of nebulosities a more detailed specification of objects is preferred. The objects in the Catalogue are listed according to their right ascensions for 1950. As only three catalogues applied here give also the objects out of the belt ±15° around the galactic equator, the Catalogue is divided into two parts. The first (main) part contains 667 objects lying within this belt, the second contains 31 objects lying outside it. A Summary Table listing the objects from the two parts according to their galactic longitudes involving, in addition, the 50-yrs precession for every object is also added.An attempt was made not to repeat contingent errors present in the source-catalogues. The maps of the POSS were often used. Coincidences with SNR and planetaries were sought for independently of identifications given in the source-catalogues. The list of objects from the source-catalogues ofHii-regions excluded as SNR, planetaries and galaxies is also given.Astrophysics and Space Science Review Paper.     

The youngest X-ray binaries

Several X-ray binaries(XRBs) have been identified to be associated with supernova remnants(SNRs). Because of the short lifetimes of SNRs, this leaves them to be the youngest known XRBs.This small group of binaries provides valuable information on the formation of compact stars under the framework of massive binary evolution. In this paper we review the observational characteristics of these youngest XRBs and discuss their possible implications on the initial conditions of compact stars and their interaction with the companion stars.     

Measurement of the absolute proper motion of M3 and its space motion

We have measured the absolute proper motions of 534 stars in a 1.5° × 1.5° region around the cluster M3, using 14 plates taken with a 40-cm refractor spanning 80 years. 24 stars in the ACT catalogue were used to define the reference frame and the reduction was made using the central overlapping technique. Using the new data, the membership probabilities were redetermined. The mean absolute motion of the cluster was found to be −0.3 ± 0.3 mas/yr in R.A., and −3.1 ± 0.3 mas/yr in declination. Combining the present data with the known distance and radial velocity, the three-dimensional galactic orbit of M3 was calculated for Allen's galactic potential.     

Long-slit optical spectroscopy of Large Magellanic Cloud radio supernova remnants

We use long-slit spectra from shocked regions of radio supernova remnants (SNRs) in the Large Magellanic Cloud to estimate electron density and derive an average 'metal' abundance of 10^−3.9 based on diagnostic line ratio plots. These simple diagnostics may be especially useful to determine abundances in more distant galaxies. Abundance values listed in this paper, in units of log(x/H) + 12, for nitrogen (7.3) and oxygen (8.2) agree with those reported in the literature. These estimates – which we assume to be dominated by the interstellar medium with little evolutionary interference – were obtained from spectral analysis of ∼50 per cent of known radio SNRs using the double beam spectrograph on the 2.3-m Advanced Technology Telescope at Siding Spring Observatory in Australia and the Cassegrain spectrograph on the 1.9-m Radcliffe telescope at the South African Astronomical Observatory. We also found optical evidence of shocked regions near 2 of 20 radio SNR candidates (J053620−693136 and J053731−662740), strengthening their identification as true remnants.     

A model for the chemical evolution of the galaxy with refuses

A model is presented for the chemical evolution of the solar neighbourhood which takes into account three families of galactic objects, according to their condensation states: stars, refuses and gas. Stars are defined as all condensed objects with masses greater than or equal to the minimum mass which ignites hydrogen and which will give rise to an evolutionary track on the HR diagram to the left of Hayashi's limit; refuses include the remnants, which are compact objects resulting from stellar deaths, and the residues, which have masses not large enough to ignite hydrogen; gas is defined as the mass which can be condensed to form stars and/or residues. We have developed equations for the mass evolution of each family, and have studied the gas metallicity distribution within the framework of the instantaneous recycling approximation, adopting different initial conditions. In order to constrain the model parameters we have also used preliminary evaluations of comet cloud masses to investigate the role of the residues as sinks of heavy elements in the Galaxy.     

Diffusion of cosmic rays in a multiphase interstellar medium swept-up by a supernova remnant blast wave

Supernova remnants (SNRs) are one of the most energetic astrophysical events and are thought to be the dominant source of Galactic cosmic rays (CRs). A recent report on observations from the Fermi satellite has shown a signature of pion decay in the gamma-ray spectra of SNRs. This provides strong evidence that high-energy protons are accelerated in SNRs. The actual gamma-ray emission from pion decay should depend on the diffusion of CRs in the interstellar medium. In order to quantitatively analyse the diffusion of high-energy CRs from acceleration sites, we have performed test particle numerical simulations of CR protons using a three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulation of an interstellar medium swept-up by a blast wave. We analyse the diffusion of CRs at a length scale of order a few pc in our simulated SNR, and find the diffusion of CRs is precisely described by a Bohm diffusion, which is required for efficient acceleration at least for particles with energies above 30 TeV for a realistic interstellar medium. Although we find the possibility of a superdiffusive process (travel distance ∝ t^0.75) in our simulations, its effect on CR diffusion at the length scale of the turbulence in the SNR is limited.     

On the birtrate of galactic supernovae

The birthrate of galactic supernovae is estimated in three different ways:

1. on the basis of the historical record (eight events) the mean time interval between supernovae, τ, is considered to be in the range τ=60±40 yr;
2. on the basis of an approximate total of 120 supernovae events in hundreds of other galaxies, considered similar to our own, the interval obtained is in the range τ=70±50 yr; (iii) on the
3. on the basis of the 130 supernovae remnants in our own Galaxy, the interval is estimated to be in the range τ=80±30 yr. The three ranges overlap, and we suggest that 70±35 yr represents a more realistic estimate of the rate than some that have previously been made.

The galactic radio supernovae remnants, and their observed systematic brightness gradients perpendicular to the galactic plane, imply a scale height of about 200 pc for the remnant progenitors, and indicate that the galactic magnetic field's scale-height is about 300 pc. Long standing anomalies associated with (a) the young remnant AD 1006, (b) the galactic loops, and (c) faint remnants, are accounted for by the brightness gradient effect, providing independent, and firm, corroborating evidence for the fundamental validity of the remnant method of deducing the galactic supernova birthrate.     

Metal enrichment history of the proto-galactic interstellar medium

To investigate the metal enrichment history of the primordial interstellar medium (ISM), we have studied the long-term evolution of supernova remnants (SNRs) and how SNRs distribute the heavy metals into the ISM when they explode. With the assumed IMF for massive stars, we have computed the multiple supernova explosions and evolution in an inhomogeneous ISM. We compare the predicted metallicity distribution of metal deficient halo stars with the observed one. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.