XMM-Newton observations of the supernova remnant RX J0852.0-4622/GRO J0852-4642

Abstract

RX J0852.0-4622 is a shell type supernova remnant with a power law spectrum in the south-eastern corner of the Vela supernova remnant. We report XMM-Newton observations of three fields centered on the rim of the remnant and confirm the power law shape of the spectra with no prominent emission lines as previously obtained with ASCA. The emission line feature at ~4.1 keV indicated in the ASCA/SIS spectrum of the northern field is detected and found in the southern and western fields, as well, with a total significance of slightly more than 4 sigmas. The line position is improved and the feature is centered on 4.45 +/- 0.05 keV. We suggest this line feature to be emission from Ti and Sc. The measured X-ray flux is consistent with the Ti gamma-ray flux previously measured with COMPTEL. We discuss various physical processes which may lead to the creation of these lines, and we discuss the implications for the progenitor and the supernova type.