1995A&A...302..879N

Two ROSAT PSPC observations have been used for studying the morphology and the spectrum of 30 Dor. Twenty-seven sources have been detected in the Nebula or in the immediate surroundings. Their spectral properties are assessed on the basis of ROSAT hardness ratios and show a trend of decreasing absorption toward the border of the Nebula. The morphology of the diffuse emission has been studied in three energy bands: 0.10-0.40, 0.41-1.00, 1.01-2.40keV. New features are found which underline the complex interrelation between Nebula and some nearby regions of X-ray emission. The PSPC data show a clear association of discrete sources with smaller cavities and with the edges of larger shells, as delineated by the H_α brightness distribution. A spectral analysis indicates the 30 Dor Nebula to be a high absorption, low temperature emitter. The spectrum of the supernova remnant in 30 Dor, N 157 B (30 Dor B) is also presented. The contribution of the young massive stars to the X-ray emission of the Nebula has been estimated to be less than 1-2% of the total emission. The possible role of other contributors to the total emission is also discussed.