An Expanded HST/WFC3 Survey of M83: Project Overview and Targeted Supernova Remnant Search

TL;DR

This paper presents an extensive HST/WFC3 imaging survey of M83, identifying 26 new supernova remnants using X-ray targeted methods and analyzing their properties within the galaxy's dense interstellar medium.

Contribution

It introduces a new supernova remnant search method using X-ray data and provides a detailed catalog of remnants in M83, including previously unresolved compact objects.

Findings

Identified 26 new supernova remnants in M83.

Many remnants show shock emission consistent with dense interstellar medium.

High elemental abundances and ISM pressure influence remnant properties.

Abstract

We present an optical/NIR imaging survey of the face-on spiral galaxy M83, using data from the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3). Seven fields are used to cover a large fraction of the inner disk, with observations in nine broadband and narrowband filters. In conjunction with a deep Chandra survey and other new radio and optical ground-based work, these data enable a broad range of science projects to be pursued. We provide an overview of the WFC3 data and processing and then delve into one topic, the population of young supernova remnants. We used a search method targeted toward soft X-ray sources to identify 26 new supernova remnants. Many compact emission nebulae detected in [Fe II] 1.644 micron align with known remnants and this diagnostic has also been used to identify many new remnants, some of which are hard to find with optical images. We include 37 previously identified supernova remnants that the data reveal to be <0.5'' in angular size and thus are difficult to characterize from ground-based data. The emission line ratios seen in most of these objects are consistent with shocks in dense interstellar material rather than showing evidence of ejecta. We suggest that the overall high elemental abundances in combination with high interstellar medium pressures in M83 are responsible for this result. Future papers will expand on different aspects of the these data including a more comprehensive analysis of the overall supernova remnant population.