AN OLD SUPERNOVA REMNANT WITHIN AN HII COMPLEX AT $1{\approx}173{\circ}$ : FVW172.8+1.5

  • Published : 2012.04.03

Abstract

We present the results of HI 21 cm line observations to explore the nature of the high-velocity (HV) HI gas at - 173${\circ}$, which appears as faint, wing-like, Hi emission that extends to velocities beyond those allowed by Galactic rotation in the low-resolution surveys. We designate this feature as Forbidden Velocity Wing (FVW) 172.8+1.5. Our high-resolution Arecibo HI observations show that FVW 172.8+1.5 is composed of knots, filaments, and ring-like structures distributed over an area of a few degrees in extent. These HV HI emission features are well correlated with the HII complex G173+1.5, which is composed of five Sharpless HII regions distributed along a radio continuum loop of size 4.4${\times}$3.4, or -138 pc ${\times}$ 107 pc, at a distance of 1.8 kpc. G173+1.5 is one of the largest star-forming regions in the outer Galaxy. The HV HI gas and the radio continuum loop seem to trace an expanding shell. Its derived HI parameters including large expansion velocity (55 km/s) imply the SNR interpretation. Hot xray emission is detected within the HII complex, which also supports its SNR origin. The FVW172.8+1.5 is most likely the products of a supernova explosion(s) within the HII complex, possibly in a cluster that triggered the formation of these HII regions.

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