Deep Radio Imaging with MERLIN of the Supernova Remnants in M82

An 8 day MERLIN deep integration at 5GHz of the central region of the starburst galaxy M82 has been used to investigate the radio structure of a number of supernova remnants in unprecedented detail revealing new shells and partial shell structures for the first time. In addition, by comparing the new deep 2002 image with an astrometrically aligned image from 36 hours of data taken in 1992, it has been possible to directly measure the expansion velocities of 4 of the most compact remnants in M82. For the two most compact remnants, 41.95+575 and 43.31+592, expansion velocities of 2800 ± 300 km s−1 and 8750 ± 400 km s−1 have been derived. These confirm and refine the measured expansion velocities which have been derived from VLBI multi-epoch studies. For remnants 43.18+583 and 44.01+596, expansion velocities of 10500 ± 750 km s −1 and 2400 ± 250 km s−1 have been measured for the first time. In addition, the peak of the radio emission for SNR 45.17+612 has moved between the two epochs implying velocities around 7500km s−1. The relatively compact remnants in M82 are thus found to be expanding over a wide range of velocities which appear unrelated to their size. The new 2002 map is the most sensitive high-resolution image yet made of M82, achieving an rms noise level of 17µJy beam−1. This establishes a first epoch for subsequent deep studies of expansion velocities for many SNR within M82.

The radio surface brightness-to-diameter ({\Sigma} - D) relation for supernova remnants (SNRs) in the starburst galaxy M82 is analyzed in a statistically more robust manner than in the previous studies that mainly discussed sample quality and related selection effects. The statistics of data fits in log {\Sigma} - log D plane are analyzed by using vertical (standard) and orthogonal regressions. As the parameter values of D - {\Sigma} and {\Sigma} - D fits are invariant within the estimated uncertainties for orthogonal regressions, slopes of the empirical {\Sigma} - D relations should be determined by using the orthogonal regression fitting procedure. Thus obtained {\Sigma} - D relations for samples which are not under severe influence of the selection effects could be used for estimating SNR distances. Using the orthogonal regression fitting procedure {\Sigma} - D slope {\beta} \approx 3.9 is obtained for the sample of 31 SNRs in M82. The results of implemented Monte Carlo simulations show that the sensitivity selection effect does not significantly influence the slope of M82 relation. This relation could be used for estimation of distances to SNRs that evolve in denser interstellar environment, with number denisty up to 1000 particles per cm3 .

We report on recent MERLIN, VLA and VLBI observations of the compact radio sources in the nearby starburst M82, with angular resolutions ranging from arcseconds to milliarcseconds. The spectral properties of the compact sources have been investigated by 15 GHz VLA-Pie Town observations which show that 16 of the less luminous compact sources are, in fact, HII regions. However the steep non-thermal spectrum, parsec size and small variability of the remaining sources is consistent with their being supernova remnants. Several show clear shell structures at MERLIN resolution (∼50 mas) and 5 have been resolved further using VLBI. Measurements of the most compact source (41.95+575) shows an expansion velocity of ∼ 2000 km s−1, and one of the best defined SNR shells (43.31+592) shows an expansion velocity of ∼ 104 km s−1. Recent VLBI and MERLIN measurements confirm this expansion velocity and show little evidence for deceleration. We comment on the discrepancy between this measured expansion velocity and the low expansion velocities predicted theoretically for remnants in M82.

SummaryWe report on recent MERLIN, VLA and VLBI observations of the compact radio sources in the nearby starburst M82, with angular resolutions ranging from arcseconds to milliarcseconds. The spectral properties of the compact sources have been investigated by 15 GHz VLA-Pie Town observations which show that 16 of the less luminous compact sources are, in fact, HII regions. However the steep non-thermal spectrum, parsec size and small variability of the remaining sources is consistent with their being supernova remnants. Several show clear shell structures at MERLIN resolution (~50 mas) and 5 have been resolved further using VLBI. Measurements of the most compact source (41.95+575) shows an expansion velocity of ~ 2000 km s-1, and one of the best defined SNR shells (43.31+592) shows an expansion velocity of ~ 104 km s-1. Recent VLBI and MERLIN measurements confirm this expansion velocity and show little evidence for deceleration. We comment on the discrepancy between this measured expansion velocity and the low expansion velocities predicted theoretically for remnants in M82.

We present the results of a second epoch of 18-cm global very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations, taken on 2001 February 23, of the central kiloparsec of the nearby starburst galaxy Messier 82. These observations further investigate the structural and flux evolution of the most compact radio sources in the central region of M82. The two most compact radio objects in M82 have been investigated (41.95+575 and 43.31+592). Using this recent epoch of data in comparison with our previous global VLBI observations and two earlier epochs of European VLBI network observations, we measure expansion velocities in the range of 1500–2000 km s−1 for 41.95+575 and 9000–11 000 km s−1 for 43.31+592 using various independent methods. In each case, the measured remnant expansion velocities are significantly larger than the canonical expansion velocity (500 km s−1) of supernova remnants (SNRs) within M82 predicted from theoretical models. In this paper, we discuss the implications of these measured expansion velocities with respect to the high-density environment that the SNRs are expected to reside in within the centre of the M82 starburst.

The results of an extremely deep, 8-d long observation of the central kpc of the nearby starburst galaxy M82 using Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network (MERLIN) at 5 GHz are presented. The 17 mu Jy beam(-1) rms noise level in the naturally weighted image makes it the most sensitive high-resolution radio image of M82 made to date. Over 50 discrete sources are detected, the majority of which are supernova remnants, but with 13 identified as H II regions. Sizes, flux densities and radio brightnesses are given for all of the detected sources, which are all well resolved with a majority showing shell or partial shell structures. Those sources within the sample which are supernova remnants have diameters ranging from 0.3 to 6.7 pc, with a mean size of 2.9 pc. From a comparison with previous MERLIN 5-GHz observations made in 1992 July, which gives a 9.75-yr timeline, it has been possible to measure the expansion velocities of 10 of the more compact sources, eight of which have not been measured before. These derived expansion velocities range between 2200 and 10 500 km s(-1).

The forbidden F II profiles at 18 and 26 micron from SN 1987A have been measured with a resolution of about 400 km/s. The central portion of each profile is well-fitted by a Gaussian with a FWHM of 2900 and 2500 km/s, respectively. The centroid velocity is redshifted relative to the LSR by 450 + or - 200 km/s at 18 microns and by 680 + or - 200 km/s at 26 microns. The integrated line fluxes alone imply a maximum expansion velocity of about 2000 km/s and a minimum expansion velocity much less than the maximum. A significant fraction of the iron has mixed with the overlying hydrogen regions. There is a high-velocity emission feature at about +3500 km/s relative to the main emission peak which contains about 3 percent of the total iron mass and has T about 2600 K. The measured 26 micron line flux corresponds to a total singly ionized iron mass of 0.026 solar. The line fluxes and profiles are inconsistent with a physically thin shell of gas and show that there is a wide range of expansion velocities for the iron.

We present the spectroscopic and photometric evolution of the nearby (z = 0.059) spectroscopically confirmed type Ic supernova, SN 2010bh, associated with the soft, long-duration gamma-ray burst (X-ray flash) GRB 100316D. Intensive follow-up observations of SN 2010bh were performed at the ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT) using the X-shooter and FORS2 instruments. Owing to the detailed temporal coverage and the extended wavelength range (3000--24800 A), we obtained an unprecedentedly rich spectral sequence among the hypernovae, making SN 2010bh one of the best studied representatives of this SN class. We find that SN 2010bh has a more rapid rise to maximum brightness (8.0 +/- 1.0 rest-frame days) and a fainter absolute peak luminosity (L_bol~3e42 erg/s) than previously observed SN events associated with GRBs. Our estimate of the ejected (56)Ni mass is 0.12 +/- 0.02 Msun. From the broad spectral features we measure expansion velocities up to 47,000 km/s, higher than those of SNe 1998bw (GRB 980425) and 2006aj (GRB 060218). Helium absorption lines He I lambda5876 and He I 1.083 microm, blueshifted by ~20,000--30,000 km/s and ~28,000--38,000 km/s, respectively, may be present in the optical spectra. However, the lack of coverage of the He I 2.058 microm line prevents us from confirming such identifications. The nebular spectrum, taken at ~186 days after the explosion, shows a broad but faint [O I] emission at 6340 A. The light-curve shape and photospheric expansion velocities of SN 2010bh suggest that we witnessed a highly energetic explosion with a small ejected mass (E_k ~ 1e52 erg and M_ej ~ 3 Msun). The observed properties of SN 2010bh further extend the heterogeneity of the class of GRB supernovae.

High resolution airborne infrared spectra of H2O in comet Halley were used to characterize the velocity field in the neutral gas outflow from the nuclear surface. The observed H2O emission appeared to be the partially isotropized sum of gas production from numerous active areas primarily on the Sunlit side of the nucleus. The spatial distribution and expansion velocity of the H2O molecules were deduced from the positions, width, and shape of the H2O lines. The line profiles demonstrated that the H2O distribution was anisotropic in the circular field-of-view of approximately 104 km radius centered on the nucleus. The blue-shifted nucleocentric line positions indicated that the outflow was predominantly into the Sun-facing hemisphere. Direct observations of the H2O spatial brightness distribution confirmed that the outflow was concentrated in the Sunward direction, although some H2O emission was detected in the tail. The measured expansion velocities were 0.9 ± 0.2 and 1.4 ± 0.2 km s−1 pre- and postperihelion, respectively. These values are in general agreement with thermodynamic predictions and other measurements, but the observed H2O velocities are apparently not a simple function of heliocentric distance. Outbursts and longer term temporal variations in the H2O production rate may influence the velocity field in the coma.

We present the intensive spectroscopic follow up of the type Ia supernova (SN Ia) 2014J in the starburst galaxy M82. Twenty-seven optical spectra have been acquired from January 22nd to September 1st 2014 with the Isaac Newton (INT) and William Herschel (WHT) Telescopes. After correcting the observations for the recession velocity of M82 and for Milky Way and host galaxy extinction, we measured expansion velocities from spectral line blueshifts and pseudo-equivalent width of the strongest features in the spectra, which gives an idea on how elements are distributed within the ejecta. We position SN 2014J in the Benetti (2005), Branch et al. (2006) and Wang et al. (2009) diagrams. These diagrams are based on properties of the Si II features and provide dynamical and chemical information about the SN ejecta. The nearby SN 2011fe, which showed little evidence for reddening in its host galaxy, is shown as a reference for comparisons. SN 2014J is a border-line object between the Core-normal (CN) and Broad-line (BL) groups, which corresponds to an intermediate position between Low Velocity Gradient (LVG) and High Velocity Gradient (HVG) objects. SN 2014J follows the R(Si II)-\Delta m15 correlation, which confirms its classification as a relatively normal SN Ia. Our description of the SN Ia in terms of the evolution of the pseudo-equivalent width of various ions as well as the position in the various diagrams put this specific SN Ia into the overall sample of SN Ia.

Core-collapse supernovae prove to comprise the most common general class of exploding star in the Universe and they come in a great variety of flavors. The wide range of luminosities, expansion velocities, and chemical abundances displayed by these objects is evidence for large variations in explosion energy and in the properties of their progenitors. This paper summarizes observed and physical properties of all types of core collapse supernovae. Despite the great diversity displayed by these objects, several regularities emerge which suggest that 1) there is a continuum in the properties of these objects, 2) the mass of the envelope is one of the driving parameters of the explosion, or it is correlated with some other property of the core, with the latter determining the outcome of the explosion, and 3) the physics of the core and explosion mechanism of all core collapse supernovae are not be fundamentally different, regardless of the external appearance of the supernova. Far above in energy scale and 56Ni production lies SN 1998bw, the only supernova firmly associated with a gamma-ray burst.

We investigate the quantity and composition of unburned material in the outer layers of three normal Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia): 2000dn, 2002cr, and 2004bw. Pristine matter from a white dwarf progenitor is expected to be a mixture of oxygen and carbon in approximately equal abundance. Using near-infrared (NIR, 0.7-2.5 μm) spectra, we find that oxygen is abundant, while carbon is severely depleted with low upper limits in the outer third of the ejected mass. Strong features from the O I line at λrest = 0.7773 μm are observed through a wide range of expansion velocities ≈ × 103 km s-1. This large velocity domain corresponds to a physical region of the supernova with a large radial depth. We show that the ionization of C and O will be substantially the same in this region. C I lines in the NIR are expected to be 7-50 times stronger than those from O I, but there is only marginal evidence of C I in the spectra and none of C II. We deduce that for these three normal SNe Ia, oxygen is more abundant than carbon by factors of 102-103. Mg II is also detected in a velocity range similar to that of O I. The presence of O and Mg combined with the absence of C indicates that for these SNe Ia, nuclear burning has reached all but the extreme outer layers; any unburned material must have expansion velocities greater than 18 × 103 km s-1. This result favors deflagration to detonation transition (DD) models over pure deflagration models for SNe Ia.

We present subarcsecond optical images and low- to moderate-resolution spectra of the compact, X-ray, and optically bright supernova remnant known as S8 in the nearby dwarf galaxy IC 1613. Deep Hα images of the remnant show a sharply defined crescent-shaped nebula, while narrow passband images reveal a coincident and unexpectedly bright continuum nebulosity exhibiting a size and morphology like that seen for the remnant’s line emissions. Low-dispersion spectra covering 3600–9000 Å show numerous low-ionization line emissions such as [O i] and [Fe ii], along with higher-ionization emission lines including He ii and optical coronal lines [Fe vii], [Fe x], [Fe xi], and [Fe xiv]. This suggests the presence of a wide range of shock velocities from ∼50 to over 350 km s−1, corresponding to preshock densities of ∼1–30 cm−3. Higher-resolution spectra indicate an expansion velocity around 180 km s−1 with an ∼45 km s−1 wide central cavity. The Hα emission spans rest-frame velocities of +120 to −240 km s−1, and we estimate a total nebula mass of 119 ± 34 M ⊙. We conclude that S8 is a relatively young supernova remnant (≃2700–4400 yr) exhibiting properties remarkably like those seen in the young LMC remnant N49, including age, physical size, shock velocities, filament densities, optical line strengths, X-ray and optical luminosities, and coronal line and continuum emissions.

We present Hubble Space Telescope NICMOS [Fe II] 1.644 μm, Paα (1.87 μm), and continuum images of the starburst galaxies M82 and NGC 253 at an unprecedented spatial resolution. In both galaxies we detect [Fe II] compact sources superposed on a diffuse background in the disk of the galaxies, together with a component above and below the plane of the galaxy. The radio and [Fe II] emissions perpendicular to the disk of M82 show a remarkable similarity to each other, suggesting that both emissions originate in shocks from supernova explosions. We find a spatial correspondence between bright compact [Fe II]–emitting regions and the location of radio supernova remnants (SNRs) for approximately 30%–50% of radio SNRs in M82 and NGC 253. This lack of a one-to-one correspondence, more than being indicative of a different origin for the radio and [Fe II] emission in starbursts, suggests two populations of SNRs: an older population (104 yr), traced by the [Fe II] emission, and a younger population (a few hundred years old), traced by the radio SNRs. We therefore conclude that the [Fe II] emission in starburst galaxies provides a good estimate of the supernova activity. Using our newly determined [Fe II] luminosities (corrected for extinction) of M82 and NGC 253, we reevaluate the calibration of the supernova rate in terms of the [Fe II] luminosity for starburst galaxies.

From a combination of MERLIN (Multi-Element Radio-Linked Interferometer Network) and global VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometry) observations of the starburst galaxy M82, images of 36 discrete sources at resolutions ranging from ~3 to ~80 mas at 1.7 GHz are presented. Of these 36 sources, 32 are identified as supernova remnants, 2 are HII regions, and 3 remain unclassified. Sizes, flux densities and radio brightnesses are given for all of the detected sources. Additionally, global VLBI only data from this project are used to image four of the most compact radio sources. These data provide a fifth epoch of VLBI observations of these sources, covering a 19-yr time-line. In particular, the continued expansion of one of the youngest supernova remnants, 43.31+59.3 is discussed. The deceleration parameter is a power-law index used to represent the time evolution of the size of a supernova remnant. For the source 43.31+59.3, a lower limit to the deceleration parameter is calculated to be 0.53+/-0.06, based on a lower limit of the age of this source.