SUMMARY OF PROPOSAL 62085

DR. ROBERT PETRE
PETRE@LHEAVX.GSFC.NASA.GOV

NASA/GSFC
CODE 662, GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER
GREENBELT
MD USA 20771
Tel: (301) 286-3844 Fax: (301) 286-1684
Medium: CD ROM
Subject: SUPERNOVA REMNANTS AND GALACTIC DIFFUSE EMISSION

CHARACTERIZING THE HARD SPECTRAL COMPONENTS IN LMC SUPERNOVA REMNANTS


ABSTRACT

We have searched all ASCA spectra of LMC SNRs for evidence of a nonthermal tail. Such a tail could arise from electrons accelerated within the shock to highly relativistic energy, and thus indicate cosmic ray creation. All SNRs with diameters <13 pc have hard components. Most of the observations are brief (~20ks), so characterizing the spectral form or placing a strong limit on a nonthermal contribution is difficult. A search for nonthermal emission is further complicated by the presence in some SNR's of an Fe K line, indicating a hard thermal component. We propose deep observations of 4 bright LMC SNRs, 0509-67.5, 0519-69.0, N23 and N63A, which will allow us to meaningfully compare the nonthermal luminosity with that of Galactic remnants (even in the presence of a hot thermal component).

CO-INVESTIGATORS
CO-I NAME INSTITUTE COUNTRY
JONATHAN KEOHANEGSFC/U.MINNUSA
UNA HWANGGSFC/U.MD.USA
ERIC GOTTHELFGSFC/USRAUSA
GLENN ALLENGSFCUSA

TARGETS

TARGET NAMEPRIRADECTIMETCOFFGISSIS CNTOBS
1)0509-67.5
2
77.3829-67.5209 100 ksN
Y
P
0.20000
1