New High-Resolution Radio Observations of the Supernova Remnant CTB 80

We report new high resolution and high sensitivity radio observations of theextended supernova remnant (SNR) CTB 80 (G69.0+2.7) at 240 MHz, 324 MHz, 618MHz, and 1380 MHz. The imaging of CTB 80 at 240 MHz and 618 MHz was performedusing the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) in India. The observations at324 MHz and 1380 MHz were obtained using the Very Large Array (VLA, NRAO) inits C and D configurations. The new radio images reveal faint extensions forthe asymmetric arms of CTB 80. The arms are irregular with filaments and clumpsof size 1' (or 0.6 pc at a distance of 2 kpc). The radio image at 1380 MHz iscompared with IR and optical emission. The correspondence IR/radio is excellentalong the N arm of CTB 80. Ionized gas observed in the [SII] line perfectlymatches the W and N edges of CTB 80. The central nebula associated with thepulsar PSR B1951+32 was investigated with an angular resolution of 10" x 6".The new radio image obtained at 618 MHz shows with superb detail structures inthe 8' x 4' E-W ``plateau'' nebula that hosts the pulsar on its westernextreme. A twisted filament, about 6' in extent (~3.5 pc), trails behind thepulsar in an approximate W-E direction. In the bright ``core'' nebula (size\~45"), located to the W of the plateau, the images show a distortion in themorphology towards the W; this feature corresponds to the direction in whichthe pulsar escapes from the SNR with a velocity of ~240 km/s. Based on the newobservations, the energetics of the SNR and of the PWN are investigated.Comment: 11 pages, Latex, 6 eps figures, To appear in AJ Vol 126., No. 5, November 200