Evidence for Shocked Molecular Gas in the Galactic Supernova Remnant CTB 109 (G109.1-1.0)

Abstract

We report the detection of molecular clouds around the X-ray-bright interior feature in the Galactic supernova remnant (SNR) CTB 109 (G109.1-1.0). This feature, called the ``lobe,'' has been previously suggested to be the result of an interaction of the SNR shock wave with a molecular cloud complex. We present new high-resolution X-ray data from the Chandra X-Ray Observatory and new high-resolution CO data from the Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory that show the region of interaction with the cloud complex in greater detail. The CO data reveal three clouds around the lobe in the velocity interval -57 km s-1