The Cocoon from a Massive Star's Death: VLA Radio Polarization Study of Possible Historical Supernova Remnant G7.7$-$3.7

Fuente: arXiv
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Auteurs principaux: Luo, Tian-Xian, Zhou, Ping, Ng, C. -Y., Zhang, Zhi-Yu, Zhang, Shumeng, Lin, Hai-Chen
Format: Preprint
Publié: 2026
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author Luo, Tian-Xian
Zhou, Ping
Ng, C. -Y.
Zhang, Zhi-Yu
Zhang, Shumeng
Lin, Hai-Chen
author_facet Luo, Tian-Xian
Zhou, Ping
Ng, C. -Y.
Zhang, Zhi-Yu
Zhang, Shumeng
Lin, Hai-Chen
contents G7.7$-$3.7 is a possible historical SNR, with the origin of its cocoon-like morphology and its supernova type remaining unclear. We performed L-band radio polarization observations of G7.7$-$3.7 using the Very Large Array in C and B-configurations. The high-resolution 1.4 GHz continuum image reveals a cocoon-like morphology with multiple shells and faint blowout structures. The total flux density is 9.6$\pm$0.5 Jy and the spectral index map shows predominantly nonthermal emission, with an integrated spectral index of $-$0.38$\pm$0.04. Polarization images of G7.7$-$3.7 show high linear polarization fraction (30%-40%) in the northwestern filaments and moderate polarization (10%-20%) in the northeast and south. The magnetic fields aligned with the filamentary structures, consistent with shock compression. Large rotation measure (RM) variations across the SNR likely originate from magnetized massive progenitor winds. We suggest that the cocoon-like morphology results from the interaction between the SNR and pre-existing circumstellar shells, demonstrating that the radio polarization provides useful constraints on the environments and even the progenitor mass-loss.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2605_03540
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle The Cocoon from a Massive Star's Death: VLA Radio Polarization Study of Possible Historical Supernova Remnant G7.7$-$3.7
Luo, Tian-Xian
Zhou, Ping
Ng, C. -Y.
Zhang, Zhi-Yu
Zhang, Shumeng
Lin, Hai-Chen
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Astrophysics of Galaxies
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
G7.7$-$3.7 is a possible historical SNR, with the origin of its cocoon-like morphology and its supernova type remaining unclear. We performed L-band radio polarization observations of G7.7$-$3.7 using the Very Large Array in C and B-configurations. The high-resolution 1.4 GHz continuum image reveals a cocoon-like morphology with multiple shells and faint blowout structures. The total flux density is 9.6$\pm$0.5 Jy and the spectral index map shows predominantly nonthermal emission, with an integrated spectral index of $-$0.38$\pm$0.04. Polarization images of G7.7$-$3.7 show high linear polarization fraction (30%-40%) in the northwestern filaments and moderate polarization (10%-20%) in the northeast and south. The magnetic fields aligned with the filamentary structures, consistent with shock compression. Large rotation measure (RM) variations across the SNR likely originate from magnetized massive progenitor winds. We suggest that the cocoon-like morphology results from the interaction between the SNR and pre-existing circumstellar shells, demonstrating that the radio polarization provides useful constraints on the environments and even the progenitor mass-loss.
title The Cocoon from a Massive Star's Death: VLA Radio Polarization Study of Possible Historical Supernova Remnant G7.7$-$3.7
topic High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Astrophysics of Galaxies
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.03540