An explanation for recently detected radiation from the Crab Pulsar – one of the brightest persistent gamma-ray sources in the sky – is proposed in Nature this week. The pulses of very high-energy gamma-ray emission are ascribed to a cold wind originating near to the site of emission. Pulsars are neutron stars that are thought to eject electron-positron winds. Initially the winds are dominated by electromagnetic energy but as they move away from the pulsar their energy becomes more kinetic. Constraining where this acceleration takes place has been difficult, but Felix Aharonian and colleagues estimate the point where this transition occurs. They suggest that the recent observations of pulsed, very high-energy gamma-ray emission from the Crab pulsar are produced by this accelerating wind.
Leave a Comment
Last Updated: 23rd May 2018 by Anne Grace
February 2012 – DIAS astronomer provides explanation for radiation detected from the Crab Pulsar
An explanation for recently detected radiation from the Crab Pulsar – one of the brightest persistent gamma-ray sources in the sky – is proposed in Nature this week. The pulses of very high-energy gamma-ray emission are ascribed to a cold wind originating near to the site of emission. Pulsars are neutron stars that are thought to eject electron-positron winds. Initially the winds are dominated by electromagnetic energy but as they move away from the pulsar their energy becomes more kinetic. Constraining where this acceleration takes place has been difficult, but Felix Aharonian and colleagues estimate the point where this transition occurs. They suggest that the recent observations of pulsed, very high-energy gamma-ray emission from the Crab pulsar are produced by this accelerating wind.
Category: News
Happening today at 1pm! #DIASdiscovers twitter.com/SCSLibrary/sta…
DIAS's Dr Haleh Karbala Ali is featured in this video that highlights the project and precautions taken during a pandemic to ensure a successful voyage. Read more on the expedition on our website: dias.ie/2021/05/06/bir… #DIASdiscovers twitter.com/eurofleets/sta…
Last chance! Voting closes tonight Sunday 09 May, at 23:59 Irish Standard time. #DIASdiscovers #reachforthestars twitter.com/DIAS_Dublin/st…
Congratulations to @jm_astro and all the team for their work on @IAUS361. 🤞 for 2022 in-person meeting! twitter.com/jm_astro/statu…
Congratulations once again to @Luke_Drury, Emeritus Professor of @DIASAstronomy on his new appointment 👏 twitter.com/ALLEA_academie…
The public vote for our Astrophotography competition "Reach for the Stars" is still open with lots of amazing images to choose from. Have you cast your vote? 🗳️dias.ie/astrophotograp… #getvoting #DIASdiscovers #Astrophotography #VoteNow
Celtica, the School of Celtic Studies peer-reviewed journal has published pioneering work in all aspects of Celtic Studies since 1946. It is one of the most prominent platforms for the publication of research findings in the field and is now published annually #DIASdiscovers twitter.com/SCSLibrary/sta…