Molecular shell formation by supernova remnants in the Galactic center: what we learn from the case of W44

Seta, Masumichi; Winnewisser, Gisbert; Hasegawa, Tetsuo; White, Glenn J. and Oka, Tomoharu (1998). Molecular shell formation by supernova remnants in the Galactic center: what we learn from the case of W44. In: The Central Regions of the Galaxy and Galaxies, 18-22 Aug 1997, Kyoto, Japan.

URL: http://cdsads.u-strasbg.fr/abs/1998IAUS..184..195S

Abstract

Recent high resolution CO images of the Galactic center (GC) molecular clouds reveal many arc and/or shell structures. A considerable fraction of them may most probably be formed by an interaction between supernova remnants (SNRs) and molecular clouds. Studies of such cases in less confused areas are needed to clarify this picture. Our study of the SNR W44 supports this SNR-induced shell formation scenario in the GC. By using the Tokyo-NRO 60-cm survey telescope, the 45-m telescope at Nobeyama,and the 15-m JCMT on Mauna Kea, we established that W44 is the first unambiguous example of interaction between a SNR and giant molecular clouds. Our millimeter and submillimeter observations revealed that the SNR changed the surface of the giant molecular clouds into filaments of shocked molecular gas. They run perpendicular to the direction of the SNR expansion. Sequential interactions between SNRs and the molecular cloud which are expected in the GC may further form these molecular filaments into networks, which are observed as shell/arc structures often made of high density molecular gas.

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