Study of the interstellar medium towards RCW 103

Abstract

RCW 103 is a shell type supernova remnant (SNR) that, according to near infrared observations, is interacting with a molecular cloud, specially to the south. In this paper we report on the study of the interstellar medium in an extended region towards RCW 103 based on HI 21 cm data acquired with the ATCA radiotelescope. Also, we report on the detection of HCO+ and CO emission in the rotational transition J=1-0 associated with the remnant. These observations were carried out with the millimeter radiotelescope MOPRA (Autralia). Our results reveal the presence of a molecular cloud interacting with the remnant to the south. We also show that the action of the shock front is depleting the HCO+.