Wide-field X-ray observations of the supernova remnant Puppis A with the SRG/ART-XC telescope

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Spectrum-Roentgen-Gamma (SRG) observatory is currently conducting its 4-yr all-sky X-ray survey, started on 2019 December 12. The survey is periodically interrupted for technological operations with the spacecraft. These time intervals are usually used by the Mikhail Pavlinsky ART-XC telescope to perform calibrations. In this context, SRG carried out scanning observations of the Puppis A supernova remnant (SNR) with the aim to check the imaging performance of ART-XC and to optimize the technique of image reconstruction for extended objects. Using the unique imaging capabilities of ART-XC and its uniform coverage of the entire Puppis A region, we attempted to investigate the morphology of this SNR at energies ≳ 4 keV, and to search for previously unknown X-ray sources. Puppis A was observed in 2019–2020, conducting 1.5° × 1.5° shallow surveys with an exposure of 36 h. Additional deep pointed observations of the central part of Puppis A were carried out in 2021 lasted 31 h to highlight the morphology of the extended emission. The X-ray emission of the Puppis A was significantly detected as an extended structure in the 4–6 keV energy band. The morphology of the emission is in general agreement with that observed in soft X-rays previously. The deep sky image of Puppis A obtained with the ART-XC telescope is characterized by a typical SNR shell rim morphology, an extended emission and a bright emission knot in the north-eastern part of the supernova shell. Also, four point X-ray sources have been detected, including three objects identified in catalogues, and one newly discovered X-ray emitter.