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Injection of relativistic particles into the Crab Nebula

Journal Article · · Sov. Astron. AJ (Engl. Transl.); (United States)
OSTI ID:5226340

It is shown that the flux of relativistic electrons from the magnetosphere of pulsar NP 0532, which are responsible for its synchrotron emission, cannot provide the pumping of the required energy into the Crab Nebula. A basis is given for the conclusion that such pumping can be accomplished by a flux of relativistic electrons which escape from the magnetosphere of NP 0532 at small pitch angles and therefore do not make an appreciable contribution to the synchrotron emission of this pulsar. An interpretation of the synchrotron spectrum of the Crab Nebula is given on the assumption of a secular ''softening'' of the energy spectrum of the relativistic electrons injected into it. The possibility is discussed of explaining the observed rapid variability of details in the central part of the Crab Nebula by ejections of clouds of dense gas rich in free neutrons from the surface of the pulsar during ''starquakes.'' The clouds of rather dense (n/sub e/approx. =10/sup 7/ cm/sup -3/) plasma thus formed at a distance of approx.10/sup 13/ cm from the pulsar will be accelerated to relativistic velocities by the pressure of the magnetic dipole radiation of NP 0532 and will deform the magnetic field in the inner part (R<10/sup 17/ cm) of the Crab Nebula, and this is the cause of the observed variability. In this case favorable conditions occur for the acceleration of particles in the cloud to relativistic energies, which can serve as an additional source of injection.

Research Organization:
Institute of Space Research, USSR Academy of Sciences
OSTI ID:
5226340
Journal Information:
Sov. Astron. AJ (Engl. Transl.); (United States), Journal Name: Sov. Astron. AJ (Engl. Transl.); (United States) Vol. 21:3; ISSN SAAJA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

640102* -- Astrophysics &amp; Cosmology-- Stars &amp; Quasi-Stellar
Radio &amp; X-Ray Sources
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATMOSPHERES
BREMSSTRAHLUNG
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
CRAB NEBULA
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENERGY SPECTRA
MAGNETIC FIELDS
NEBULAE
PLASMA
PULSARS
RADIATIONS
SPECTRA
STARQUAKES
STELLAR ATMOSPHERES
STELLAR MAGNETOSPHERES
SUPERNOVA REMNANTS
SYNCHROTRON RADIATION