Supernova Remnant W-44: Observations at 8350 Megacycles per Second

The region of W-44 was mapped at 8350 megacycles per second. The degree of linear polarization of the most intense portion of W-44 integrated over the 10.8-minute-of-arc beam was 11 ± 2 percent at position angle 45 ° ± 5°. This high degree of polarization is further evidence that W-44 is a supernova remnant. The integrated flux density of (95 ± 25) × 10$^{-26}$ watt per square meter per cycle per second for this source is consistent with measurements at lower frequencies extrapolated with the use of a spectral index of -0.44, obtained by other observers. In addition, the compact source 3 minutes of right ascension west of W-44 was unpolarized, within the error of measurement. The flux density of (23 ± 6) × 10$^{-26}$ watt per square meter per cycle per second determined for it along with the results of other observers indicate that this source has a thermal spectrum.