The expansion of the Crab Nebula

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Astrophysical Journal; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/186051· OSTI ID:5588568

Bietenholz, M F; Kronberg, P P; Hogg, D E; Wilson, A S ^[1]

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1. Toronto, University (Canada) National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Charlottesville, VA (USA) Maryland, University, College Park (USA)

Using high-resolution radio observations from 1982 and 1987 the expansion of the synchrotron component of the Crab Nebula was measured, including a measurement of the expansion of the nebula's outer edge. The measurements show a rate of expansion similar to that obtained from optical data for the line-emitting filaments. It is shown that the synchrotron component of the Crab expands homologously and that its rate of expansion has accelerated since the supernova explosion. The data further suggest that the acceleration of the synchrotron component may be larger than that of the emission-line filaments which, if confirmed by future observations, implies that the relativistic gas is currently bursting through the net of filaments. The absence of deceleration allows the establishment of stringent upper limits on the density of gas into which the observed nebula is expanding. 19 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5588568
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (United States) Vol. 373; 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
ACCELERATION
BREMSSTRAHLUNG
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
CRAB NEBULA
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EMISSION SPECTRA
ENERGY RANGE
EXPANSION
LIMITING VALUES
NEBULAE
RADIATIONS
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
SPECTRA
SUPERNOVA REMNANTS
SYNCHROTRON RADIATION