Global deceleration and inward movements of X-ray knots and rims of RCW 103

TL;DR

This study measures the proper motions of X-ray knots and rims in the supernova remnant RCW 103, revealing global deceleration, inward movements, and potential interactions with high-density media, providing insights into the remnant's environment and evolution.

Contribution

It presents the first proper motion measurements of RCW 103's X-ray features over 24 years, showing deceleration and inward motions, and suggests environmental interactions affecting its dynamics.

Findings

Global deceleration of knots and rims within 24 years.

Some features changed direction from outward to inward movement.

Possible detection of magnetar's proper motion at 500 km/s.

Abstract

Kinematics of shocks, ejecta knots, and the compact remnant of a supernova remnant gives an insight into the nature of the progenitor and surrounding environment. We report on a proper motion measurement of X-ray knots and rims of the magnetar-hosting supernova remnant RCW 103. Chandra data obtained in three epochs, 1999, 2010, and 2016 are used. We find a global deceleration of 12 knots and rims both in northern and southern regions within the last $\sim 24$ yrs, even though its age is thought to be larger than 2 kyr. Some of them even changed their moving directions from outward ($\sim 1,000$ km s$^{-1}$) to inward ($\sim -2,000$ km s$^{-1}$). Our findings can be explained with a collision with a high-density medium both in the northern and southern edges of the remnant, although the remnant may still be expanding in the wind-blown cavity. The proper motion of the associated magnetar 1E161348$-$5055 is possibly detected with a velocity of $\approx 500$ km s$^{-1}$.