The large, highly polarized supernova remnant G 279.0 + 1.1

Abstract

Radio continuum and linear polarization observations, performed with the Parkes 64-m radio telescope, are presented for the large-diameter supernova remnant G 279.0 + 1.1. Our images reveal structure previously unseen in this remnant. The SNR appears highly polarized at both 1.4 and 2.4 GHz, with polarizations up to ⋍ 50 per cent at 2.4 GHz. Depolarization is weak over most of the remnant. The projected magnetic field appears circumferential over the brighter sections of the SNR, consistent with this being an old remnant. Faraday rotation measures appear to take on low negative values across most of the remnant. G 279.0 + 1.1 appears to be interacting with several CO clouds associated with the Carina spiral arm, at a distance of 3 kpc.