SNR N49 in the LMC: X-ray emission from multi-phase shock and neutron star

Supernova remnant N49 in the Large Magellanic Cloud has been observed with the Chandra X-ray Observatory. The superb angular resolution of the Chandra images resolves the diffuse filaments and knots across the remnant as well as the point source, the X-ray counterpart of soft γ-ray repeater SGR 0526-66. We detect metal-rich ejecta beyond the main shock boundary in the southwest of the remnant, which appear to be the supernova explosion fragments ejected from the progenitor star. The X-ray spectral features of N49 suggest that the post-shock regions in the east might have been reheated by the reverse shock off the dense clouds, while the blast wave shock front has decelerated as it propagates into the clouds. The X-ray spectrum of the detected point source can be described with a power law (Γ∼3), This confirms the conclusive detection of the X-ray counterpart of SGR 0526-66 in the quiescent state.