Fleurs Synthesis Telescope Observations of Galactic SNRs

Extract

It is now generally accepted that the remnants of supernovae (SNRs) are of two types, recognizable by their radio structure and spectral index. To date most of the radio sources identified as SNRs are of the easily identified shell type. These have spectral indices a of -0.5 ±0.2 and exhibit some degree of annular brightness distribution — the projection of the radio shell. The second type, e.g. the Crab Nebula, have filled structures and relatively flat (a = -0.1 ±0.1) spectral indices. The relatively strong radio polarization exhibited by some members of this class has led to their identification but generally they tend to be hidden amongst the HII regions in our galaxy.