Search for broad absorption lines in spectra of stars in the field of supernova remnant RX J0852.0-4622 (Vela Jr.)

TL;DR

This study searched for broad absorption lines from unshocked ejecta in spectra of stars behind SNR RX J0852.0-4622 but found none, providing constraints on the ejecta and suggesting a SN Ic origin.

Contribution

The paper presents the first attempt to detect broad absorption lines of unshocked ejecta in this SNR and establishes upper limits on their strength.

Findings

No broad absorption lines detected, with a 3-sigma upper limit of <0.04.

Detected narrow Ca II absorption components at high velocities.

Results support a SN Ic explosion origin for the SNR.

Abstract

Supernova remnant (SNR) RX J0852.0-4622 is one of the youngest and is most likely the closest among known galactic supernova remnants (SNRs). It was detected in X-rays, the 44Ti gamma-line, and radio. We obtain and analyze medium-resolution spectra of 14 stars in the direction towards the SNR RX J0852.0-4622 in an attempt to detect broad absorption lines of unshocked ejecta against background stars. Spectral synthesis is performed for all the stars in the wavelength range of 3740-4020AA to extract the broad absorption lines of Ca II related to the SNR RX J0852.0-4622. We do not detect any broad absorption line and place a 3-sigma upper limit on the relative depths of <0.04 for the broad Ca II absorption produced by the SNR. We detect narrow low and high velocity absorption components of Ca II. High velocity |V(LSR)|=100-140 km/s components are attributed to radiative shocks in clouds engulfed by the old Vela SNR. The upper limit to the absorption line strength combined with the width and flux of the 44Ti gamma-ray line 1.16 MeV lead us to conclude that SNR RX J0852.0-4622 was probably produced by an energetic SN Ic explosion.