Chandra Observations of SNR RCW 103

TL;DR

This study uses deep Chandra X-ray observations to detect and analyze metal-rich ejecta in the supernova remnant RCW 103, revealing details about its composition, progenitor star, and explosion characteristics.

Contribution

First detection of metal-rich ejecta in RCW 103 using deep Chandra data, providing insights into the remnant's composition and progenitor star properties.

Findings

Ejecta emission is scattered throughout the remnant.

Shocked CSM dominates the X-ray emission.

Progenitor mass estimated at 18-20 M$_\odot$.

Abstract

We analyze three Chandra observations, with a combined exposure time of 99 ks, of the Galactic supernova remnant RCW 103, a young supernova remnant, previously with no clear detection of metal-rich ejecta. Based on our imaging and spectral analyses of these deep Chandra data, we find evidence for metal-rich ejecta emission scattered throughout the remnant. X-ray emission from the shocked ejecta is generally weak, and the shocked circumstellar medium (CSM) is a largely dominant component across the entire remnant. The CSM component shows abundances of ~0.5 solar, while Ne, Mg, Si, S, and Fe abundances of the ejecta are up to a few times solar. Comparison of these ejecta abundances with yields from supernova nucleosynthesis models suggests, together with the existence of a central neutron star, a progenitor mass of ~18-20 M$_\odot$, though the Fe/Si ratios are larger than predicted. The shocked CSM emission suggests a progenitor with high mass-loss rate and subsolar metallicity.