A possible association of a young pulsar (PSR J0855−4644) with the young Vela supernova remnant RX J0852.0−4622

The recently discovered young supernova remnant (SNR) RX J0852.0−4622 has attracted much interest since its discovery because of the possibility that it may have been generated by the nearest supernova in recent history. We note the presence of two Parkes Multibeam Survey pulsars within the boundary of the remnant. We discuss the properties of the two pulsars and the likelihood of either of them being physically linked to the SNR. We tentatively suggest that, given the current uncertainties in the distance to RX J0852.0−4622, one of these pulsars, the 65-ms period PSR J0855−4644 could indeed be the compact remnant of this supernova explosion. If the pulsar birth site is at the geometrical centre of the nebula, then, for the transverse pulsar velocity to be reasonable, the SNR must be nearby (around 250 pc) and no younger than about 3000 yr old.     

Predicted γ-ray image of SN 1006 due to inverse Compton emission

We propose a method to synthesize the inverse Compton (IC) γ-ray image of a supernova remnant starting from the radio (or hard X-ray) map and using results of the spatially resolved X-ray spectral analysis. The method is successfully applied to SN 1006. We found that synthesized IC γ-ray images of SN 1006 show morphology in nice agreement with that reported by the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) collaboration. The good correlation found between the observed very high energy γ-ray and X-ray/radio appearance can be considered as evidence of the fact that the γ-ray emission of SN 1006 observed by HESS is leptonic in origin, although a hadronic origin may not be excluded.     

Distribution of the Molecular Gas Around SN 1572

The early-stage structure and evolution of a supernova remnant (SNR) depends largely on its ambient interstellar medium, so the interstellar medium becomes the valid probe for investigating the evolution of SNRs. We have observed the ¹²CO (J = 1 − 0) line emission around the remnant of SN 1572 with the 13.7m millimeter-wave telescope at the Qinghai Station of PMO, in order to investigate the distribution of the CO molecular gas around SN 1572 and provide some observational basis for studying the relationship of SN 1572 with its ambient molecular gas and the evolution of this SNR. The observed result indicates that the molecular gas in the velocity range of V_LSR = −69∼ −58 km/s is associated with SN 1572, and this velocity component comes from a large-scale molecular cloud. The molecular gas is distributed along the periphery of the radio shell, continually but not uniformly, and forms a semi-closed molecular shell around the SNR. The enhanced emission exists in its whole eastern half, especially the CO emission is strongest on the northeastern edge. At the emission peak position, the spectral line exhibits a broadened velocity feature (>5 km/s). Combining with available observations in the optical, infrared, X-ray and other wavebands, it is demonstrated that the fast shock wave and ejecta are expanding into the molecular gas on the northeastern edge, and interacting with the dense gas. This interaction will have an important influence on the future evolution of SN 1572.     

Re-identification of G35.6−0.4 as a supernova remnant

G35.6−0.4 is an extended radio source in the Galactic plane which has previously been identified as either a supernova remnant or an H  ii region. Observations from the Very Large Array Galactic Plane Survey at 1.4 GHz with a resolution of 1 arcmin allow the extent of G35.6−0.4 to be defined for the first time. Comparison with other radio survey observations show that this source has a non-thermal spectral index, with   S ∝ν^{−0.47±0.07}  . G35.6−0.4 does not have obvious associated infrared emission, so it is identified as a Galactic supernova remnant, not an H  ii region. It is  ≈15 × 11 arcmin²  in extent, showing partial limb brightening.     

On the manifestation of Richtmyer-Meshkov instability in an inhomogeneous interstellar medium with radiative cooling

We numerically simulate the evolution of the plane two-dimensional deformations of a contact discontinuity that is impulsively accelerated by a shock wave. We take into account the effects of radiative cooling and perturbation scale lengths on the dynamics and shape of the forming density inhomogeneities. For moderately intense shocks in a stellar wind and for strong shocks from a supernova, we show that the radiative cooling processes do not affect significantly the growth rate of the initial perturbations and the total mass of the forming condensations. However, the density of the matter compressed by the transmitted shock wave increases dramatically. At the same time, the contribution from long-wavelength perturbations to the deformation of the contact surface decreases significantly. In the case of shock propagation from a supernova, the initial conditions have been found to be a factor that can affect the morphology of the shocked interstellar medium.