Atacama Compact Array observations of the pulsar-wind nebula of SNR 0540-69.3

• We present observations of the pulsar-wind nebula (PWN) region of SNR 0540-69.3. The observations were made with the Atacama Compact Array (ACA) in Bands 4 and 6. We also add radio observations from the Australia Compact Array at 3 cm. For 1.449-233.50 GHz, we obtain a synchrotron spectrum F-nu proportional to nu(-alpha nu) with the spectral index alpha(nu) = 0.17 +/- 0.02. To conclude how this joins the synchrotron spectrum at higher frequencies, we include hitherto unpublished AKARI mid-infrared data, and evaluate published data in the ultraviolet (UV), optical, and infrared (IR). In particular, some broad-band filter data in the optical must be discarded from our analysis due to contamination by spectral line emission. For the UV/IR part of the synchrotron spectrum, we arrive at alpha(nu) = 0.87(-0.10)(+0.08). There is room for 2.5 x 10(-3) M-circle dot of dust with a temperature of similar to 55 K if there are dual breaks in the synchrotron spectrum, one around similar to 9 x 10(10) Hz and another at similar to 2 x 10(13) Hz. The spectral index then changes at similar to 9 x 10(10) Hz from alpha(nu) = 0.14 +/- 0.07 in the radio to alpha(nu) = 0.35(+0.05)(-0.07) in the millimetre-to-far-IR range. The ACA Band 6 data marginally resolve the PWN. In particular, the strong emission similar to 1 ''.5 south-west of the pulsar, seen at other wavelengths, and resolved in the 3 cm data with its 0 ''.8 spatial resolution, is also strong in the millimetre range. The ACA data clearly reveal the supernova remnant shell similar to 20-35 arcsec west of the pulsar, and for the shell we derive alpha(nu )= 0.64 +/- 0.05 for the range 8.6-145 GHz.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

pulsars: individual: PSR B0540-69.3

supernovae: general

ISM: SNR 0540-69.3

ISM: supernova remnants

Magellanic Clouds

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)