Supernova remnants in the Magellanic Clouds

Abstract

The present updated catalog of SNRs in the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds (LMC and SMC) incorporates remnants recently discovered as a result of coordinated X-ray, optical, and radio surveys, and contains 25 confirmed SNRs in the LMC and six in the SMC. Optical images are included for all of the new SNRs, together with X-ray isophotes for 24 of the SNRs in the LMC which have been obtained with the high resolution imager and imaging proportional counter of the Einstein Observatory. The cumulative number-diameter relation for Type II SNRs with D smaller than 50 pc in the LMC is N(D)= 0.36 D exp 1.0 + or 0.2, suggesting that the SNRs have evolved much faster than expected from Sedov theory and that the free expansion phase dominates their evolution up to diameters of 30-40 pc. SNR production frequencies in the LMC and SMC are calculated to be 1/275 and 1/800 years, respectively, or nearly equal to the galaxies' luminosity ratios.