The Salamander: A Case Study of the Magnetic Field and Peculiar Morphology of G309.8–2.6 through Radio Polarimetry

Abstract Studying the interaction between core-collapse supernova remnants (SNRs) and their surrounding environments is essential to understanding the mechanism for energy transfer to the interstellar medium and the intrinsic physical properties of these remnants. In this paper, we focus on G309.8−2.6. Our new observations reveal that this object includes an SNR shell with a relic pulsar wind nebula that extends well beyond the emission that has been previously observed in X-rays. We present new radio continuum and polarization images of G309.8−2.6 from the Evolutionary Map of the Universe and Polarization Sky Survey of the Universe’s Magnetism surveys with the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder. The images reveal the complex and peculiar morphology of G309.8−2.6. The linear polarization displays an atypical S-shaped morphology and a highly ordered magnetic field. The rotation measure (RM) map shows a large-scale gradient or possible sign reversal, depending on the foreground RM. We reprocessed archival X-ray observations from Chandra and eROSITA, and retrieved archival H α and infrared observations. We performed a joint analysis of the multiwavelength data and proposed scenarios to explain the unusual shape. Our results place new constraints on the magnetic field of G309.8−2.6, including its environment, and demonstrate the power of polarization observations in probing the properties of SNRs.

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Publication Details

Journal
The Astrophysical Journal
Published
2026-04-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/ae4de2
Primary Topic
Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

The Salamander: A Case Study of the Magnetic Field and Peculiar Morphology of G309.8–2.6 through Radio Polarimetry

B. Ball, Cameron L. Van Eck, Syed Faisal ur Rahman, C. S. Anderson et al.
The Astrophysical Journal
Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena
article

The Salamander: A Case Study of the Magnetic Field and Peculiar Morphology of G309.8–2.6 through Radio Polarimetry

B. Ball, Cameron L. Van Eck, Syed Faisal ur Rahman, C. S. Anderson, R. Kothes, Jennifer West, D. A. Leahy, Wenji Jing, Jayde Willingham, N.M. McClure-Griffiths, Isabel Sander, M. D. Filipovic, B. M. Gaensler, Xianghua Li, Jacco Th. van Loon, Samar Safi-Harb, Andrew M. Hopkins, W. Becker, Yik Ki Ma
article en

Abstract

Abstract Studying the interaction between core-collapse supernova remnants (SNRs) and their surrounding environments is essential to understanding the mechanism for energy transfer to the interstellar medium and the intrinsic physical properties of these remnants. In this paper, we focus on G309.8−2.6. Our new observations reveal that this object includes an SNR shell with a relic pulsar wind nebula that extends well beyond the emission that has been previously observed in X-rays. We present new radio continuum and polarization images of G309.8−2.6 from the Evolutionary Map of the Universe and Polarization Sky Survey of the Universe’s Magnetism surveys with the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder. The images reveal the complex and peculiar morphology of G309.8−2.6. The linear polarization displays an atypical S-shaped morphology and a highly ordered magnetic field. The rotation measure (RM) map shows a large-scale gradient or possible sign reversal, depending on the foreground RM. We reprocessed archival X-ray observations from Chandra and eROSITA, and retrieved archival H α and infrared observations. We performed a joint analysis of the multiwavelength data and proposed scenarios to explain the unusual shape. Our results place new constraints on the magnetic field of G309.8−2.6, including its environment, and demonstrate the power of polarization observations in probing the properties of SNRs.

The Astrophysical JournalVol. 1001(1)
Australian National University (AU), Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics (CA), University of Tasmania (AU), NED University of Engineering and Technology (PK), University of Alberta (CA), University of Calgary (CA), University of California, Santa Cruz (US), University of Toronto (CA), Yunnan University (CN), Lahore University of Management Sciences (PK), Dominion Astrophysical Observatory (CA), Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (DE), Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (CA), Tasmanian Land Conservancy (AU), Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (DE), University of Manitoba (CA), Keele University (GB), Western Sydney University (AU), Macquarie University (AU)
Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, Yunnan University, Australian Research Council
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