An expanded HST/WFC3 survey of M83: Project overview and targeted supernova remnant search

We present an optical/NIR imaging survey of the face-on spiral galaxy M83, using data from the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3). Seven fields are used to cover a large fraction of the inner disk, with observations in nine broadband and narrowband filters. In conjunction with a deep...

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Main Authors: Blair, W., Chandar, R., Dopita, M., Ghavamian, P., Hammer, D., Kuntz, K., Long, K., Soria, Roberto, Whitmore, B., Winkler, P.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Institute of Physics Publishing 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/41383
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author Blair, W.
Chandar, R.
Dopita, M.
Ghavamian, P.
Hammer, D.
Kuntz, K.
Long, K.
Soria, Roberto
Whitmore, B.
Winkler, P.
author_facet Blair, W.
Chandar, R.
Dopita, M.
Ghavamian, P.
Hammer, D.
Kuntz, K.
Long, K.
Soria, Roberto
Whitmore, B.
Winkler, P.
author_sort Blair, W.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description We present an optical/NIR imaging survey of the face-on spiral galaxy M83, using data from the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3). Seven fields are used to cover a large fraction of the inner disk, with observations in nine broadband and narrowband filters. In conjunction with a deep Chandra survey and other new radio and optical ground-based work, these data enable a broad range of science projects to be pursued. We provide an overview of the WFC3 data and processing and then delve into one topic, the population of young supernova remnants (SNRs). We used a search method targeted toward soft X-ray sources to identify 26 new SNRs. Many compact emission nebulae detected in [Fe II] 1.644 µm align with known remnants and this diagnostic has also been used to identify many new remnants, some of which are hard to find with optical images. We include 37 previously identified SNRs that the data reveal to be <0.''5 in angular size and thus are difficult to characterize from ground-based data. The emission line ratios seen in most of these objects are consistent with shocks in dense interstellar material rather than showing evidence of ejecta. We suggest that the overall high elemental abundances in combination with high interstellar medium pressures in M83 are responsible for this result. Future papers will expand on different aspects of these data including a more comprehensive analysis of the overall SNR population.
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
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publishDate 2014
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-413832023-02-22T06:24:24Z An expanded HST/WFC3 survey of M83: Project overview and targeted supernova remnant search Blair, W. Chandar, R. Dopita, M. Ghavamian, P. Hammer, D. Kuntz, K. Long, K. Soria, Roberto Whitmore, B. Winkler, P. ISM: supernova remnants galaxies: individual (M83) galaxies: ISM We present an optical/NIR imaging survey of the face-on spiral galaxy M83, using data from the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3). Seven fields are used to cover a large fraction of the inner disk, with observations in nine broadband and narrowband filters. In conjunction with a deep Chandra survey and other new radio and optical ground-based work, these data enable a broad range of science projects to be pursued. We provide an overview of the WFC3 data and processing and then delve into one topic, the population of young supernova remnants (SNRs). We used a search method targeted toward soft X-ray sources to identify 26 new SNRs. Many compact emission nebulae detected in [Fe II] 1.644 µm align with known remnants and this diagnostic has also been used to identify many new remnants, some of which are hard to find with optical images. We include 37 previously identified SNRs that the data reveal to be <0.''5 in angular size and thus are difficult to characterize from ground-based data. The emission line ratios seen in most of these objects are consistent with shocks in dense interstellar material rather than showing evidence of ejecta. We suggest that the overall high elemental abundances in combination with high interstellar medium pressures in M83 are responsible for this result. Future papers will expand on different aspects of these data including a more comprehensive analysis of the overall SNR population. 2014 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/41383 10.1088/0004-637X/788/1/55 Institute of Physics Publishing unknown
spellingShingle ISM: supernova remnants
galaxies: individual (M83)
galaxies: ISM
Blair, W.
Chandar, R.
Dopita, M.
Ghavamian, P.
Hammer, D.
Kuntz, K.
Long, K.
Soria, Roberto
Whitmore, B.
Winkler, P.
An expanded HST/WFC3 survey of M83: Project overview and targeted supernova remnant search
title An expanded HST/WFC3 survey of M83: Project overview and targeted supernova remnant search
title_full An expanded HST/WFC3 survey of M83: Project overview and targeted supernova remnant search
title_fullStr An expanded HST/WFC3 survey of M83: Project overview and targeted supernova remnant search
title_full_unstemmed An expanded HST/WFC3 survey of M83: Project overview and targeted supernova remnant search
title_short An expanded HST/WFC3 survey of M83: Project overview and targeted supernova remnant search
title_sort expanded hst/wfc3 survey of m83: project overview and targeted supernova remnant search
topic ISM: supernova remnants
galaxies: individual (M83)
galaxies: ISM
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/41383