Radio perspectives on the Monoceros SNR G205.5+0.5

TL;DR

This study re-examines the radio spectral properties and interaction of the Monoceros SNR with its environment, revealing spatial spectral variations, magnetic field characteristics, and evidence of interaction with the Rosette Nebula, suggesting the SNR's evolution within a progenitor-created cavity.

Contribution

It provides new high-resolution HI data and detailed radio spectral analysis, demonstrating the SNR's interaction with surrounding gas and its role in star formation within the complex.

Findings

Spectral index averaged at -0.41 with spatial steepening towards the western shell.

Magnetic field strength estimated at about 9.5 μG in the western filament.

Evidence of HI shells interacting with the SNR and triggering star formation.

Abstract

The Monoceros Loop (SNR G205.5+0.5) is a large shell-type supernova remnant located in the Rosette Complex region. It was suggested to be interacting with the Rosette Nebula. We aim to re-examine the radio spectral index and its spatial variation over the Monoceros SNR, and study its properties of evolution within the complex interstellar medium. We extracted radio continuum data for the Monoceros complex region from the Effelsberg 21 cm and 11 cm surveys and the Urumqi 6 cm polarization survey. We used the new Arecibo GALFA-HI survey data with much higher resolution and sensitivity than that previously available to identify the HI shell related with the SNR. Multi-wavelengths data are included to investigate the properties of the SNR. The spectral index $\alpha$ ($S_{\nu}\propto\nu^{\alpha}$) averaged over the SNR is $-0.41 \pm$0.16. The TT-plots and the distribution of $\alpha$ over the SNR show spatial variations which steepen towards the inner western filamentary shell. Polarized emission is prominent on the western filamentary shell region. The RM there is estimated to be about 30$\pm$77n rad m$^{-2}$, where the n=1 solution is preferred, and the magnetic field has a strength of about 9.5 $\mu$G. From the HI channel maps, further evidence is provided for an interaction between the Monoceros SNR and the Rosette Nebula. We identify partial neutral hydrogen shell structures in the northwestern region at LSR velocities of +15 km s$^{-1}$ circumscribing the continuum emission. The HI shell has swept up a mass of about 4000 M$_{\odot}$ for a distance of 1.6 kpc. The western HI shell, well associated with the dust mission, is found to lie outside of the radio shell. We suggest that the Monoceros SNR is evolving within a cavity blown-out by the progenitor, and has triggered part of the star formation in the Rosette Nebula.