A deep radio continuum survey of the southern Galactic plane at 2.4 GHz

Abstract

Total-power images are presented from a 2.4-GHz polarimetric radio continuum survey of the southern Galactic plane. The observations were performed with the Parkes 64-m radio telescope and cover the Galactic plane in the region 238°≤l≤365°, with a latitude range of │b│≤5° or greater, where l and b are the directions of longitude and latitude respectively. The resolution of the images is 10.4 arcmin and the rms noise is approximately 12 mJy beam area-1, making this the most sensitive survey to date of the southern Milky Way at this frequency. The survey images reveal a large amount of structure and detail, including a considerable number of low surface brightness loops and spurs and an impressive loop complex in the region of Galactic longitude 342°. Over 30 possible supernova remnant (SNR) candidates appear in the survey, a number of which have angular diameters of the order of 10°. Faint radio emission is detected surrounding bright HII complexes and also from Hα nebulosities associated with the Gum nebula.