A search for a consistent model for the electromagnetic spectrum of the crab nebula

Cowsik, R. ; Pal, Yash ; Rengarajan, T. N. (1970) A search for a consistent model for the electromagnetic spectrum of the crab nebula Astrophysics and Space Science, 6 (3). pp. 390-395. ISSN 0004-640X

[img]
Preview
PDF - Publisher Version
319kB

Official URL: http://www.springerlink.com/content/j848227240m12u...

Related URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00653857

Abstract

An attempt is made to search for a consistent model to explain the electromagnetic spectrum of the Crab nebula (Tau A). It is assumed that there is a continuous injection of electrons at the centre of the nebula with an energy spectrum E-1.54 as evidenced by radio data. This spectrum must steepen to a slope larger than 2 at some energy Ei in order to ensure that the energy input into electrons remains finite. The spectrum must also steepen beyond an energy Ec depending on the magnetic field because of synchrotron energy losses. Two types of models are considered: Class I, in which the whole nebula is characterised by a uniform magnetic field, and Class II, in which besides the general field H0, small filamentary regions of strong field Hs are postulated. In models of Class I, the best fit to the observed data is obtained when E t >E c and H0⋍5×10-4 gauss. However, this predicts a decrease in X-ray source size beyond ~40 KeV. There are two possibilities of Class II model depending on the residence time of electrons in strong field regions being small or large. The former case explains the flattening in the optical spectrum.

Item Type:Article
Source:Copyright of this article belongs to Springer-Verlag.
ID Code:20672
Deposited On:20 Nov 2010 13:45
Last Modified:17 May 2016 04:57

Repository Staff Only: item control page