Resolution of the Compact Radio Continuum Sources in Arp220
Journal article, 2011

We present 2 cm and 3.6 cm wavelength very long baseline interferometry images of the compact radio continuum sources in the nearby ultra-luminous infrared galaxy Arp220. Based on their radio spectra and variability properties, we confirm these sources to be a mixture of supernovae (SNe) and supernova remnants (SNRs). Of the 17 detected sources we resolve 7 at both wavelengths. The SNe generally only have upper size limits. In contrast all the SNRs are resolved with diameters ≥0.27 pc. This size limit is consistent with them having just entered their Sedov phase while embedded in an interstellar medium (ISM) of density 104 cm–3. These objects lie on the diameter-luminosity correlation for SNRs (and so also on the diameter-surface brightness relation) and extend these correlations to very small sources. The data are consistent with the relation L ∝ D–9/4. Revised equipartition arguments adjusted to a magnetic field to a relativistic particle energy density ratio of 1% combined with a reasonable synchrotron-emitting volume filling factor of 10% give estimated magnetic field strengths in the SNR shells of ∼15-50 mG. The SNR shell magnetic fields are unlikely to come from compression of ambient ISM fields and must instead be internally generated. We set an upper limit of 7 mG for the ISM magnetic field. The estimated energy in relativistic particles, 2%-20% of the explosion kinetic energy, is consistent with estimates from models that fit the IR-radio correlation in compact starburst galaxies.

ISM: supernova remnants

galaxies: individual (Arp220)

galaxies: starburst

Author

Fabien Batejat

Chalmers, Earth and Space Sciences, Onsala Space Observatory

John Conway

Chalmers, Earth and Space Sciences, Onsala Space Observatory

Rossa Hurley

Chalmers, Earth and Space Sciences, Onsala Space Observatory

Rodrigo Parra Barraza

European Southern Observatory Santiago

Philip Diamond

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

Colin Lonsdale

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Carol Lonsdale

National Radio Astronomy Observatory

Astrophysical Journal

0004-637X (ISSN) 1538-4357 (eISSN)

Vol. 740 2 95

Subject Categories

Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology

Roots

Basic sciences

DOI

10.1088/0004-637X/740/2/95

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Latest update

7/2/2018 1