Locating the CSM Emission within the Type Ia Supernova Remnant N103B

Abstract

Abstract We present results from deep Chandra observations of the young Type Ia supernova remnant (SNR) 0509–68.7, also known as N103B, located in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). The remnant displays an asymmetry in brightness, with the western hemisphere appearing significantly brighter than the eastern one. Previous multiwavelength observations have attributed the difference to a density gradient and suggested origins in circumstellar material, drawing similarities to Kepler’s SNR. We apply a clustering technique combined with traditional imaging analysis to spatially locate various emission components within the remnant. We find that O and Mg emission is strongest along the blast wave, and coincides with Spitzer observations of dust emission and optical emission from the nonradiative shocks. The abundances of O and Mg in these regions are enhanced relative to the average LMC abundances and appear as a distinct spatial distribution compared to the ejecta products, supporting the interpretation based on a circumstellar medium. We also find that the spatial distribution of Cr is identical to that of Fe in the interior of the remnant, and does not coincide at all with the O and Mg emission.