Identification campaign of supernova remnant candidates in the milky way. I. Chandra observation of G308.3-1.4

Abstract

ROSAT all-sky survey data have provided another window in which to search for supernova remnants (SNRs). In re-examining this data archive, a list of unidentified extended X-ray objects have been suggested as promising SNR candidates. However, most of these targets have not yet been fully explored by state-of-the-art X-ray observatories. To select a pilot target for a long-term identification campaign, we observed the brightest candidate, G308.3-1.4, with the Chandra X-ray Observatory. An incomplete shell-like X-ray structure that is well correlated with the radio shell emission at 843 MHz has been revealed. The X-ray spectrum suggests the presence of a shock-heated plasma. All these evidences confirm G308.3-1.4 as an SNR. The brightest X-ray point source detected in this field of view is also the one located closest to the geometrical center of G308.3-1.4, which has a soft spectrum. The intriguing temporal variability and the identification of the optical/infrared counterpart rule out the possibility of an isolated neutron star. On the other hand, the spectral energy distribution from the Ks band to the R band suggests a late-type star. Together with a putative periodicity of 1.4 hr, the interesting excesses in the V and B bands and in Hα suggest that this source is a promising candidate for a compact binary that survived a supernova explosion. © 2012. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.