The X-Ray Structure of the Supernova Remnant 3C 400.2

Abstract

We present here the results of an X-ray study of the supernova remnant 3C 400.2 (G53.6-2.2) using the ASCA data. 3C 400.2 has an unusual morphology at radio wavelengths, suggesting two SNRs superposed along the same line of sight, whereas its X-ray emission is known to be centrally peaked. We investigated the X-ray spectral variation across the remnant using the ASCA GIS and the ROSAT PSPC data. The X-ray spectra can be well fitted by thin thermal plasma models. However, there is no significant variation in the temperature and the ionization parameter across the remnant. We conclude that it is a single SNR rather than two overlapping SNRs. The centrally peaked X-ray morphology and the thin thermal emission with nearly cosmic abundances indicate that 3C 400.2 belongs to a class of ``mixed-morphology SNRs''. We found that the physical parameters of 3C 400.2 are similar to those of other mixed-morphology SNRs. The morphology of 3C 400.2 can be explained by a supernova explosion occurring near to the edge of an interstellar cloud.