Observation of a pulsar wind - CCD polarimetry of the Crab Nebula

Journal Article · Fri Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1991 · Astrophysical Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/169710· OSTI ID:5757729

Michel, F C; Scowen, P A; Dufour, R J; Hester, J J ^[1]

---

1. Rice Univ., Houston, TX (USA) California Institute of Technology, Pasadena (USA)

Stokes parameters have been extracted from CCD images of the Crab Nebula in polarized light and recombined to give images of the nebula in totally polarized light and totally unpolarized light. Images in totally polarized light show dominant emission in an hour-glass structure. Theoretical expectations on general grounds predict a predominantly azimuthal magnetic field about the pulsar spin axis. Synchrotron radiation from energetic electrons with a range of pitch angles of about 90 deg, when viewed off-axis, naturally produces an hour-glass radiation pattern. Much of the remaining structure: scalloping of the outer reaches of the synchrotron nebula about the edges and depolarization across the face of the nebula seems plausibly interpreted in terms of interaction with the filamentary structure. In effect, the filaments appear to form a conducting cage from which the pulsar wind is attempting to escape with the wind structure thereby pooching out between dense filaments. 26 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5757729
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (USA) Vol. 368; 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
BREMSSTRAHLUNG
CHARGE-COUPLED DEVICES
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
CRAB NEBULA
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
IMAGE PROCESSING
MAGNETIC FIELDS
NEBULAE
POLARIMETRY
POLARIZATION
PROCESSING
PULSARS
RADIATIONS
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
STELLAR ACTIVITY
STELLAR WINDS
SUPERNOVA REMNANTS
SYNCHROTRON RADIATION