Molecular Clouds associated with the Type Ia SNR N103B in the Large Magellanic Cloud

Abstract

N103B is a Type Ia supernova remnant (SNR) in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). We carried out new ${}^{12}$CO($J$ = 3-2) and ${}^{12}$CO($J$ = 1-0) observations using ASTE and ALMA. We have confirmed the existence of a giant molecular cloud (GMC) at $V_{\mathrm{LSR}}$ $\sim$245 km s${}^{-1}$ towards the southeast of the SNR using ASTE ${}^{12}$CO($J$ = 3-2) data at an angular resolution of $\sim$25$"$ ($\sim$6 pc in the LMC). Using the ALMA ${}^{12}$CO($J$ = 1-0) data, we have spatially resolved CO clouds along the southeastern edge of the SNR with an angular resolution of $\sim$1.8$"$ ($\sim$0.4 pc in the LMC). The molecular clouds show an expanding gas motion in the position-velocity diagram with an expansion velocity of $\sim 5$ km s${}^{-1}$. The spatial extent of the expanding shell is roughly similar to that of the SNR. We also find tiny molecular clumps in the directions of optical nebula knots. We present a possible scenario that N103B exploded in the wind-bubble formed by the accretion winds from the progenitor system, and is now interacting with the dense gas wall. This is consistent with a single-degenerate scenario.

12 pages, 1 table, 8 figures, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal (ApJ)