The Proper Motion of the Central Compact Object RX J0822-4300 in the Supernova Remnant Puppis A

TL;DR

This study measures the proper motion of the neutron star RX J0822-4300 in Puppis A using Chandra data spanning over 10 years, estimating its velocity, direction, and the supernova remnant's age.

Contribution

First precise proper motion measurement of RX J0822-4300 using multi-epoch Chandra data, refining its velocity, trajectory, and remnant age estimates.

Findings

Proper motion of 71 ± 12 mas/yr measured.

Recoil velocity of 672 ± 115 km/s estimated.

Supernova remnant Puppis A age of approximately 4450 ± 750 years.

Abstract

Using the High Resolution Camera (HRC) aboard the Chandra X-ray Observatory, we have re-examined the proper motion of the central compact object RX J0822-4300 in the supernova remnant Puppis A. New data from 2010 August, combined with three archival data sets from as early as 1999 December, provide a baseline of 3886 days (more than 10 1/2 years) to perform the measurement. Correlating the four positions of RX J0822-4300 measured in each data set implies a projected proper motion of mu 71 \pm 12 masy. For a distance of 2 kpc this proper motion is equivalent to a recoil velocity of 672 \pm 115 km/s. The position angle is found to be 244 \pm 11 degrees. Both the magnitude and direction of the proper motion are in agreement with RX J0822-4300 originating near the optical expansion center of the supernova remnant. For a displacement of 371 \pm 31 arcsec between its birth place and today's position we deduce an age of (5.2 \pm 1.0) 10^3 yrs for RX J0822-4300. The age inferred from the neutron star proper motion and filament motions can be considered as two independent measurements of the same quantity. They average to 4450 \pm 750 yrs for the age of the supernova remnant Puppis A.