Abstract

Studying gamma rays from supernova remnants interacting with molecular clouds(SNR-MCs) provides a promising route to probe the connection between cosmic rays and SNRs, allowing us to assess the likely location and mechanism of particle acceleration therein. With its groundbreaking sensitivity and spatial resolution at MeV-GeV energies, the Fermi-LAT is well suited for analysis of these systems. SNR-MCs are the most populous LAT SNR class detected to date, and they present a means for tracking the injected energy from initial acceleration, as well as diffusion out of the remnant.

We present here preliminary results of an automated method for characterizing source regions and identifying extended sources, developed in support of the LAT supernova remnant catalog. We present results for some candidate LAT SNRs known to be interacting with molecular clouds, as well as the gamma Cygni SNR and its complex surroundings. Using four years of Fermi-LAT data, we aim to study the mechanisms for gamma-ray production in MC-SNRs, to probe the underlying particle population, and to explore diffusion of particles from remnants into their surrounding environments.