Six Balmer-dominated supernova remnants

Spectra of six Balmer-dominated SNRs are examined: the Galactic SNR of SN 1572 and SN 1006, the LMC SNR 0505-67.9, 0509-67.5, 0519-69.0, and 0548-70.4. A shock velocity is derived for each SNR with broad H-alpha and a possible lower limit of the shock velocity in 0509-67.5. Models are used which show that the use of the ratio of broad to narrow intensity as an indicator of shock velocity is not reliable. The observed intensity ratios do not correspond to either the commonly assumed case of no equilibration or to the other extreme of total equilibration. Distances to the filaments in SN 1572 and SN 1006 of 1.5-3.1 kpc and 1.4-2.8 kpc, respectively, are obtained. The ages are estimated to range from about 10,000 yr for 0505-67.9 and 0548-70.4 to less than 1500 yr for the small SNR 0509-67.5 and 0519-69.0.l. These two young SNR bring the number of SNe in the LMC to at least five in the past 1500 yr, making the SN rate per unit luminosity comparable to that reported for late spiral galaxies. 40 refs.