The SARAO MeerKAT Galactic Plane Survey filamentary source catalogue

G M Williams, M A Thompson, M Mutale, A J Rigby, C Bordiu, S Riggi, M Bietenholz, L D Anderson, F Camilo, S Goedhart, S E Jaffa, W O Obonyo, C Trigilio, G Umana

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We present a catalogue of filamentary structures identified in the SARAO (South African Radio Astronomy Observatory) MeerKAT 1.3 GHz Galactic Plane Survey (SMGPS). We extract 933 filaments across the survey area, 803 of which (similar to 86 per cent) are associated with extended radio structures (e.g. supernova remnants and H II regions), while 130 (similar to 14 per cent) are largely isolated. We classify filaments as thermal or non-thermal via their associated mid-infrared emission and find that 77/130 (similar to 59 per cent) of the isolated sources are likely to be non-thermal, and are therefore excellent candidates for the first isolated, non-thermal radio filaments observed outside of the Galactic Centre (GC). Comparing the morphological properties of these non-thermal candidates to the non-thermal filaments observed towards the GC, we find that the GC filaments are on the whole angularly narrower and shorter than those across the SMGPS, potentially an effect of distance. The SMGPS filaments have flux densities similar to those of the GC; however, the distribution of the latter extends to higher flux densities. If the SMGPS filaments were closer than the GC population, it would imply a more energetic population of cosmic ray electrons in the GC. We find that the filament position angles in the SMGPS are uniformly distributed, implying that the local magnetic field traced by the filaments does not follow the large-scale Galactic field. Finally, although we have clearly shown that filaments are not unique to the GC, the GC nevertheless has the highest density of filaments in the Milky Way.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1428-1445
Number of pages18
JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Volume536
Issue number2
Early online date05 Dec 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 12 Dec 2024

Keywords

  • techniques: interferometric
  • catalogues
  • surveys
  • ISM: structure
  • Galaxy: structure
  • radio continuum: ISM

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