THE SUPERNOVA REMNANT RCW-103 AT RADIO WAVELENGTHS

High-resolution radio polarimetry of the Galactic supernova remnant RC W 103 shows a nearly circular, fairly thick shell. A number of thin fi laments appear throughout the shell; they match perfectly the filament ary structure seen at optical wavelengths. We have found no evidence f or a point x-ray source seen in the center of the remnant by the Einst ein Observatory. The observed polarization is weak and is present only at a few spots which do not correspond with the brightest regions see n in total intensity, However, at all locations where polarization is observed, the orientation of the magnetic field is nearly the same, Th ese data indicate that RCW 103 has recently entered the point-blast st age in its evolution. (C) 1996 American Astronomical Society.