Confirmation Of Two Galactic Supernova Remnant Candidates Discovered By THOR

TL;DR

This study confirms two supernova remnant candidates from the THOR survey using spectral and morphological data, highlighting challenges in polarization-based identification and exploring associations with pulsars.

Contribution

It provides confirmation of two SNR candidates with spectral and morphological analysis, and discusses limitations of polarization data in distinguishing SNRs from H II regions.

Findings

Spectral index and morphology confirm SNR candidates.

Fractional polarization cannot reliably distinguish SNRs from H II regions.

Some SNR candidates are potentially associated with pulsars.

Abstract

Anderson et al. (2017) identified seventy six candidate supernova remnants (SNRs) using data from The HI, OH, Recombination line survey of the Milky Way (THOR). The spectral index and polarization properties can help distinguish between SNRs and H II regions, which are often confused. We confirm two SNR candidates using spectral index data and morphology. However, we observe that the fractional linear polarization cannot distinguish between SNRs and H II regions, likely due to contamination by diffuse Galactic synchrotron emission. We also comment on the association of SNR candidates with pulsars through geometric and age considerations.