Does the Vela pulsar have 'wisps'

Journal Article · Thu Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Astrophysical Journal; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/186098· OSTI ID:5157227

Bietenholz, M F; Frail, D A; Hankins, T H ^[1]

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1. Toronto Univ. (Canada) National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Socorro, NM (United States) National Radio Astronomy Observatory (United States) New Mexico Inst. of Mining and Technology, Socorro (New Mexico)

VLA observations in the immediate vicinity of the Vela pulsar have been made using a technique to mask out the strong pulsed radio emission from the pulsar. The discovery of a localized ridge of highly polarized radio emission to the northeast of the Vela pulsar is described. This feature is concave toward the pulsar, and has a steep spectrum. On the basis of its physical and geometric properties, it is argued that it is directly related to the pulsar, although it is not coincident with either the previously known X-ray synchrotron nebula or the optical continuum nebulosity. It is suggested that the feature is part of the shock produced by the termination of the relativistic magnetohydrodynamic pulsar wind into the surrounding medium. It bears many similarities to the wisps seen in the Crab Nebula. 18 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5157227
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (United States) Vol. 376; ISSN ASJOA; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Stars & Quasi-Stellar
Radio & X-Ray Sources
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
CRAB NEBULA
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
NEBULAE
PULSARS
RADIATIONS
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
SHOCK WAVES
STELLAR ACTIVITY
STELLAR WINDS
SUPERNOVA REMNANTS
X RADIATION