Does the VELA Pulsar Have ``Wisps''?
Abstract
VLA observations in the immediate vicinity of the Vela pulsar have been made using a technique to mask out the strong pulsed radio emission from the pulsar. The discovery of a localized ridge of highly polarized radio emission to the northeast of the Vela pulsar is described. This feature is concave toward the pulsar, and has a steep spectrum. On the basis of its physical and geometric properties, it is argued that it is directly related to the pulsar, although it is not coincident with either the previously known X-ray synchrotron nebula or the optical continuum nebulosity. It is suggested that the feature is part of the shock produced by the termination of the relativistic magnetohydrodynamic pulsar wind into the surrounding medium. It bears many similarities to the wisps seen in the Crab Nebula.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- August 1991
- DOI:
- 10.1086/186098
- Bibcode:
- 1991ApJ...376L..41B
- Keywords:
-
- Pulsars;
- Radio Jets (Astronomy);
- Stellar Winds;
- Supernova Remnants;
- Crab Nebula;
- Very Large Array (Vla);
- Astrophysics;
- NEBULAE: SUPERNOVA REMNANTS;
- PULSARS;
- RADIO SOURCES: GENERAL