Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope

The TeV Morphology of the Interacting Supernova Remnant IC 443

S. Kumar

Abstract:

IC443 is a Galactic supernova remnant (SNR) in which there is clear evidence for the interaction of a dense molecular cloud with the supernova blast wave. This interaction makes the region an excellent laboratory in which to study the connection between particle acceleration and gamma ray emission in SNRs. Previous observations in the GeV to TeV band with MAGIC and VERITAS showed gamma-ray emission coincident with an interaction point between the shock wave and the molecular cloud. At lower energies (MeV to GeV), Fermi-LAT observations have revealed the signature of hadronic emission with its characteristic ?pion bump?. Furthermore, observations in other wavelengths such as radio, infrared, optical and X-rays indicate that the environment around the remnant is complex, with a range of different densities. In this new study, with the help of additional data, VERITAS observations have been used to resolve the TeV morphology of IC443 at the few arc-minute scale. We will present results on the gamma-ray morphology and discuss possible sources of the emission, including the shell of the remnant and other gaseous structures in the vicinity.