A DEEP RADIO-CONTINUUM SURVEY OF THE SOUTHERN GALACTIC PLANE AT 2.4 GHZ

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 degrees less than or equal to l less than or equal to 365 degrees, with a latitude range of \b\less than or equal to 5 degrees 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 degrees. Over 30 possible supernova remnant (SNR) candidates appear in the survey, a number of which have angular diameters of the order of 10 degrees. Faint radio emission is detected surrounding bright H II complexes and also from Ha nebulosities associated with the Gum nebula.