X-ray Luminous Radio Supernovae in the Center of M82?

Abstract

We investigate the X-ray emission from the central regions of the prototypical starburst galaxy M82. Previous observations had shown a bright central X-ray point source, with suggestions as to its nature including a low-luminosity AGN or an X-ray binary. A new analysis of ROSAT HRI observations find 4 X-ray point sources in the central kpc of M82 and we identify radio counterparts for the two brightest X-ray sources. The counterparts are probably young radio supernovae (SN) and are amongst the most luminous and youthful SN in M82. Therefore, we suggest that we are seeing X-ray emission from young supernovae in M82, and in particular the brightest X-ray source is associated with the radio source 41.95+57.5. We discuss the implications of these observations for the evolution of X-ray luminous SN.