Optical and Infrared Observations of the X-ray source 1WGA J1713.4$-$3949 in the G347.3-0.5 SNR

Abstract

X-ray observations unveiled the existence of enigmatic point-like sources at the centre of young supernova remnants (SNRs). These sources, dubbed Central Compact Objects (CCOs), are thought to be neutron stars formed by the supernova explosion. However, their multi-wavelength phenomenology is surprisingly different from that of most young neutron stars.The aim of this work is to understand the nature of the CCO 1WGA J1713.4-3949 in the G347.3-0.5 SNR, through deep optical and IR observations, the first ever performed for this source.By exploiting its derived Chandra X-ray position we carried out optical (BVI) observations with the NTT and Adaptive Optics IR (JHKs) observations with the VLT. We detected two faint (I~23.5, I~24.3.) patchy objects in the NTT images, close to the Chandra error circle. They were clearly resolved in our VLT images which unveiled a total of six candidate counterparts (17.8<H<20.3) with quite red colours (H-Ks~0.6). If they are stars, none of them can be associated with 1WGA J1713.4-3949 for the most likely values of distance and hydrogen column density. The identification of the faintest candidate with the neutron star itself can not be firmly excluded, while the identification with a fallback disk is ruled out by its non-detection in the I band. No other candidates are detected down to B~26, V~26.2, I~24.7, H~21.3 and K~20.5. Our high-resolution IR imaging of unveiled a few objects close/within the Chandra X-ray position of 1WGA J1713.4-3949. However, at present none of them can be firmly identified as its likely counterpart.

6 pages, 4 figures, Astronomy and Astrophysics, in press

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Cited by in corpus (8)

• Search for Continuous Gravitational Waves from the Central Compact Objects in Supernova Remnants Cassiopeia A, Vela Jr. and G347.3-0.5
• X-ray bounds on cooling, composition, and magnetic field of the Cassiopeia A neutron star and young central compact objects
• Search for gravitational waves from twelve young supernova remnants with a hidden Markov model in Advanced LIGO's second observing run
• Formation pathway for lonely stripped-envelope supernova progenitors: implications for Cassiopeia A
• A kinematic study of central compact objects and their host supernova remnants
• Results from an Einstein@Home search for continuous gravitational waves from G347.3 at low frequencies in LIGO O2 data
• The nature of the infrared counterpart and of the optical nebula associated with the Central Compact Object in Vela Jr.\
• Harnessing the potential of PyStoch: detecting continuous gravitational waves from interesting supernova remnant targets