The Spectral Turnover of the “Filled-Center” Supernova Remnant 3C 58: Implications for When Acceleration Occurs

Abstract

AbstractIRASobservations the “filled-center” supernova remnant 3C 58 are used to derived upper limits of 0.4, 0.4, 0.8, and 1.5 Jy for its infrared flux density at 12, 25, 60, and 100 μm, respectively. These values imply a break in the spectrum of 3C58 above a few tens of gigahertz—two orders of magnitude below the break in the spectrum of the Crab Nebula—with a change of spectral index across the break for 3C 58 of more than 0.5. This is similar to previous results for another “filled-center” remnant, G74.9+1.2, from radio observations alone. This implies that their emission isnotdominated by a constant injection rate of particles with a power-law distribution. Either the break is due to synchrotron losses in the past, with little particle injection in recent times or it is intrinsic to the acceleration mechanism at work (presumably from a central neutron star).Subject headings: acceleration of particles — ISM: individual (3C 58) — radiation mechanisms: nonthermal — supernova remnants