Exploring the central region of SNR 0540-69.3 with JWST I: 3D morphology

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Autori principali: Larsson, J., Tegkelidis, C., Fransson, C., Lundqvist, P., Sollerman, J., Spyromilio, J.
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2026
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author Larsson, J.
Tegkelidis, C.
Fransson, C.
Lundqvist, P.
Sollerman, J.
Spyromilio, J.
author_facet Larsson, J.
Tegkelidis, C.
Fransson, C.
Lundqvist, P.
Sollerman, J.
Spyromilio, J.
contents The young supernova remnant SNR 0540-69.3 in the Large Magellanic Cloud offers a detailed view of an energetic pulsar-wind nebula interacting with the surrounding ejecta. We present infrared observations of the central region of SNR 0540-69.3 obtained with the JWST NIRSpec and MRS integral field units. From the observations we reconstruct the 3D morphology of the strongest emission lines in the inner ejecta ($\lesssim$ 1000 km/s), which reveals the distribution of H I, He I, [Ne II], [Ne III], [S III], [S IV], [Fe II], and [Ni II]. The 3D morphology of most lines is dominated by two highly fragmented lobes of approximately similar size. Based on the assumption that the lobes are symmetric around the pulsar, we infer a pulsar kick velocity of ~300 km/s away from the observer. There are differences in the 3D morphologies of individual emission lines due to a combination of varying physical conditions and abundances. The detection of H I 1.8756 $μ$m in the inner ejecta confirms the classification of the SN as a Type II and shows that hydrogen was mixed down to low velocities of < 400 km/s in the explosion. We compare the results to the Crab nebula and conclude that asymmetries originating in the explosion most likely play a major role in shaping the PWNe.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_19367
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Exploring the central region of SNR 0540-69.3 with JWST I: 3D morphology
Larsson, J.
Tegkelidis, C.
Fransson, C.
Lundqvist, P.
Sollerman, J.
Spyromilio, J.
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Astrophysics of Galaxies
The young supernova remnant SNR 0540-69.3 in the Large Magellanic Cloud offers a detailed view of an energetic pulsar-wind nebula interacting with the surrounding ejecta. We present infrared observations of the central region of SNR 0540-69.3 obtained with the JWST NIRSpec and MRS integral field units. From the observations we reconstruct the 3D morphology of the strongest emission lines in the inner ejecta ($\lesssim$ 1000 km/s), which reveals the distribution of H I, He I, [Ne II], [Ne III], [S III], [S IV], [Fe II], and [Ni II]. The 3D morphology of most lines is dominated by two highly fragmented lobes of approximately similar size. Based on the assumption that the lobes are symmetric around the pulsar, we infer a pulsar kick velocity of ~300 km/s away from the observer. There are differences in the 3D morphologies of individual emission lines due to a combination of varying physical conditions and abundances. The detection of H I 1.8756 $μ$m in the inner ejecta confirms the classification of the SN as a Type II and shows that hydrogen was mixed down to low velocities of < 400 km/s in the explosion. We compare the results to the Crab nebula and conclude that asymmetries originating in the explosion most likely play a major role in shaping the PWNe.
title Exploring the central region of SNR 0540-69.3 with JWST I: 3D morphology
topic High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Astrophysics of Galaxies
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.19367