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K. E. Devine (Carleton College), C. L. Brogan (National Radio Astonomy Observatory), C. Tam (McGill University), N. E. Kassim, J. Lazio (Naval Research Laboratory), M. Nord (Naval Research Laboratory/ University of New Mexico), M. Roberts (McGill University), C. Lacey (University of South Carolina)
Supernova remnants (SNRs) are a critical tool for exploring the universe, and statistical studies of supernova remnant ages, distribution, and energetics are critically important in numerous areas of astrophysics. For example, by observing Galactic SNRs, we can better understand the star formation history of our Galaxy. Based on predicted levels of high mass star forming rates in the early Galaxy, there should be many more SNRs than have been discovered to date. In large degree this lack is thought to be the result of selection effects acting against the discovery of old, faint, large remnants as well as very young, small remnants due to poor sensitivity and spatial resolution at low frequencies, where SNRs are brightest. In order to search for these missing SNRs we have imaged a 1.5 degree field centered on the Galactic supernova remnant G11.2-0.3 at 74, 330, and 1420 MHz with the Very Large Array radio telescope in the A, B, C, and D configurations and at 235 MHz with the Giant Metre Radio Telescope. These data have yielded the highest resolution and sensitivity images of this region of the Galactic plane at frequencies below 1.4 GHz to date. In addition to adding much needed low frequency flux measurements for two known Galactic SNRs, plus a number of other Galactic HII regions and extragalactic sources, we have also detected three new SNR candidates. We show that these SNR candidates have steep spectral indices as expected for non-thermal emission and have shell like morphologies. By more than doubling the number of SNRs within a single 1.5 degree field of view, we have begun to gain a significantly more accurate understanding of the SNR distribution in the galactic plane. This research was supported by the National Science Foundation and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO).
The author(s) of this abstract have provided an email address for comments about the abstract: kathryn.devine@alumni.carleton.edu
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 34, #4
© 2002. The American Astronomical Soceity.