Spatially Resolved Plasma Diagnostics of the Supernova Remnant DEM L71 using the Reflection Grating Spectrometer

TL;DR

This study uses high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy with the Reflection Grating Spectrometer to spatially resolve plasma properties in the supernova remnant DEM L71, revealing complex physical processes and demonstrating the instrument's imaging capabilities.

Contribution

First application of spatially resolved high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy to a supernova remnant using RGS, uncovering physical processes like charge exchange and resonance scattering.

Findings

Regions with high forbidden-to-resonance ratios of O VII lines suggest additional physical processes.

RGS can effectively serve as an imaging spectrometer for moderately extended objects.

Spatially resolved plasma diagnostics reveal complex physical conditions within DEM L71.

Abstract

We present a spatially resolved high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy of the supernova remnant DEM L71 using the Reflection Grating Spectrometer (RGS) aboard XMM-Newton. Because of the large dispersion angle of the RGS, we are able to resolve individual emission lines and examine their spatial distributions within this moderately extended remnant. We derive line fluxes across different regions of DEM L71 and perform quantitative plasma diagnostics. Our analysis reveals that some regions have high forbidden-to-resonance ratios of O\emissiontype{VII} He$\alpha$ lines, suggesting a non-negligible contribution from additional physical processes, such as charge exchange and/or resonance scattering. Our results demonstrate that the RGS has potential to serve as an outstanding X-ray imaging spectrometer for moderately diffuse objects.