Diffuse Atomic and Molecular Gas near IC443

TL;DR

This study analyzes atomic and molecular absorption lines near IC443 to characterize the diffuse gas interacting with the supernova remnant, revealing gas densities, velocity distributions, and shock dynamics.

Contribution

It provides detailed measurements of gas densities, velocities, and chemical compositions in the vicinity of IC443, enhancing understanding of supernova remnant interactions with surrounding interstellar material.

Findings

Diffuse molecular gas has typical densities of 100-300 cm^-3.

High-velocity gas extends over a broad velocity range, indicating a ~100 km/s shock.

Multiple velocity components suggest complex gas dynamics around IC443.

Abstract

We present an analysis of results on absorption from Ca II, Ca I, K I, and the molecules CH+, CH, C2, and CN that probes gas interacting with the supernova remnant IC443. The eleven directions sample material across the visible nebula and beyond its eastern edge. Most of the neutral material, including the diatomic molecules, is associated with the ambient cloud detected via H I and CO emission. Analysis of excitation and chemistry yields gas densities that are typical of diffuse molecular gas. The low density gas probed by Ca II extends over a large range in velocities, from -120 to +80 km/s in the most extreme cases. This gas is distributed among several velocity components, unlike the situation for the shocked molecular clumps, whose emission occurs over much the same range but as very broad features. The extent of the high-velocity absorption suggests a shock velocity of 100 km/s for the expanding nebula.