A new SNR with TeV shell-type morphology: HESS J1731-347
Creators: name: HESS Collaboration
name: Abramowski, A.
name: Acero, F.
name: Aharonian, F.
name: Akhperjanian, A. G.
name: Anton, G.
name: Balzer, A.
name: Barnacka, A.
name: de Almeida, U. Barres
name: Bazer-Bachi, A. R.
name: Becherini, Y.
name: Becker, J.
name: Behera, B.
name: Bernlöhr, K.
name: Bochow, A.
name: Boisson, C.
name: Bolmont, J.
name: Bordas, P.
name: Borrel, V.
name: Brucker, J.
name: Brun, F.
name: Brun, P.
name: Bulik, T.
name: Büsching, I.
name: Carrigan, S.
name: Casanova, S.
name: Cerruti, M.
name: Chadwick, P. M.
name: Charbonnier, A.
name: Chaves, R. C. G.
name: Cheesebrough, A.
name: Chounet, L. -M.
name: Clapson, A. C.
name: Coignet, G.
name: Conrad, J.
name: Dalton, M.
name: Daniel, M. K.
name: Davids, I. D.
name: Degrange, B.
name: Deil, C.
name: Dickinson, H. J.
name: Djannati-Ataï, A.
name: Domainko, W.
name: Drury, L. O'C.
name: Dubois, F.
name: Dubus, G.
name: Dyks, J.
name: Dyrda, M.
name: Egberts, K.
name: Eger, P.
name: Espigat, P.
name: Fallon, L.
name: Farnier, C.
name: Fegan, S.
name: Feinstein, F.
name: Fernandes, M. V.
name: Fiasson, A.
name: Fontaine, G.
name: Förster, A.
name: Füßling, M.
name: Gallant, Y. A.
name: Gast, H.
name: Gérard, L.
name: Gerbig, D.
name: Giebels, B.
name: Glicenstein, J. F.
name: Glück, B.
name: Goret, P.
name: Göring, D.
name: Häffner, S.
name: Hague, J. D.
name: Hampf, D.
name: Hauser, M.
name: Heinz, S.
name: Heinzelmann, G.
name: Henri, G.
name: Hermann, G.
name: Hinton, J. A.
name: Hoffmann, A.
name: Hofmann, W.
name: Hofverberg, P.
name: Holler, M.
name: Horns, D.
name: Jacholkowska, A.
name: de Jager, O. C.
name: Jahn, C.
name: Jamrozy, M.
name: Jung, I.
name: Kastendieck, M. A.
name: Katarzynski, K.
name: Katz, U.
name: Kaufmann, S.
name: Keogh, D.
name: Khangulyan, D.
name: Khélifi, B.
name: Klochkov, D.
name: Kluzniak, W.
name: Kneiske, T.
name: Komin, Nu.
name: Kosack, K.
name: Kossakowski, R.
name: Laffon, H.
name: Lamanna, G.
name: Lennarz, D.
name: Löhse, T.
name: Lopatin, A.
name: Lu, C. -C.
name: Marandon, V.
name: Marcowith, A.
name: Masbou, J.
name: Maurin, D.
name: Maxted, N.
name: McComb, T. J. L.
name: Medina, M. C.
name: Méhault, J.
name: Moderski, R.
name: Moulin, E.
name: Naumann, C. L.
name: Naumann-Godo, M.
name: de Naurois, M.
name: Nedbal, D.
name: Nekrassov, D.
name: Nguyen, N.
name: Nicholas, B.
name: Niemiec, J.
name: Nolan, S. J.
name: Ohm, S.
name: Olive, J-P.
name: Wilhelmi, E. de Oña
name: Opitz, B.
name: Ostrowski, M.
name: Panter, M.
name: Arribas, M. Paz
name: Pedaletti, G.
name: Pelletier, G.
name: Petrucci, P. -O.
name: Pita, S.
name: Pühlhofer, G.
name: Punch, M.
name: Quirrenbach, A.
name: Raue, M.
name: Rayner, S. M.
name: Reimer, A.
name: Reimer, O.
name: Renaud, M.
name: Reyes, R. de los
name: Rieger, F.
name: Ripken, J.
name: Rob, L.
name: Rosier-Lees, S.
name: Rowell, G.
name: Rudak, B.
name: Rulten, C. B.
name: Ruppel, J.
name: Ryde, F.
name: Sahakian, V.
name: Santangelo, A.
name: Schlickeiser, R.
name: Schöck, F. M.
name: Schulz, A.
name: Schwanke, U.
name: Schwarzburg, S.
name: Schwemmer, S.
name: Sikora, M.
name: Skilton, J. L.
name: Sol, H.
name: Spengle, G.
name: Stawarz, L.
name: Steenkamp, R.
name: Stegmann, C.
name: Stinzing, F.
name: Stycz, K.
name: Sushch, I.
name: Szostek, A.
name: Tavernet, J. -P.
name: Terrier, R.
name: Tibolla3, O.
name: Tluczykont, M.
name: Valerius, K.
name: van Eldik, C.
name: Vasileiadis, G.
name: Venter, C.
name: Vialle, J. P.
name: Viana, A.
name: Vincent, P.
name: Vivier, M.
name: Völk, H. J.
name: Volpe, F.
name: Vorobiov, S.
name: Vorster, M.
name: Wagner, S. J.
name: Ward, M.
name: Wierzcholska, A.
name: Zacharias, M.
name: Zajczyk, A.
name: Zdziarski, A. A.
name: Zech, A.
name: Zechlin, H. -S.
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2011
Subjects: subject: High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena (astro-ph.HE)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: The recent discovery of the radio shell-type supernova remnant (SNR), G353.6-0.7, in spatial coincidence with the unidentified TeV source HESS J1731-347 has motivated further observations of the source with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) Cherenkov telescope array to test a possible association of the gamma-ray emission with the SNR. With a total of 59 hours of observation, representing about four times the initial exposure available in the discovery paper of HESS J1731-347, the gamma-ray morphology is investigated and compared with the radio morphology. An estimate of the distance is derived by comparing the interstellar absorption derived from X-rays and the one obtained from 12CO and HI observations. The deeper gamma-ray observation of the source has revealed a large shell-type structure with similar position and extension (r~0.25°) as the radio SNR, thus confirming their association. By accounting for the H.E.S.S. angular resolution and projection effects within a simple shell model, the radial profile is compatible with a thin, spatially unresolved, rim. Together with RX J1713.7-3946, RX J0852.0-4622 and SN 1006, HESS J1731-347 is now the fourth SNR with a significant shell morphology at TeV energies. The derived lower limit on the distance of the SNR of 3.2 kpc is used together with radio and X-ray data to discuss the possible origin of the gamma-ray emission, either via inverse Compton scattering of electrons or the decay of neutral pions resulting from proton-proton interaction.
description: 10 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in A&amp;A