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S.P. Hendrick, K.J. Borkowski, S.P. Reynolds (North Carolina State University)
We present recent observations with the Chandra X-ray Telescope of two Large Magellanic Cloud supernova remnants. With the spatial resolution of the Chandra telescope, we can examine the morphology and perform spatially resolved spectroscopy. SNR 0548-70.4 is Balmer line dominated in the optical spectrum, and a shock speed of 500-1100 km/s, which (assuming Sedov dynamics) implies an age of 10,000 years. SNR 0534-69.9 is not as well studied, but its size of 2.4 arcminutes and our measured temperatures give an age estimate of 10,000 years also. The new observation of 0534-69.9 shows a shell-like structure with a bright NE limb, with diffuse emission across the center. 0548-70.4 also contains diffuse emission across the center, with bright limbs to the east and west. The spectra of both these remnants have been examined in both the center regions and the limb regions. Both objects show strong silicon lines as well as magnesium, sulfur, and iron L-shell lines. Preliminary spectral fits (with both Sedov and plane-shock models) indicate an overabundance of heavy elements suggesting that ejecta are still important. This is a surprising result considering the age estimates mentioned above, and may allow even mature remnants to be classified, based on ejecta abundances, as type Ia or type II.