The Extended X-ray Nebula of PSR J1420-6048
Abstract
The vicinity of the unidentified EGRET source 3EG J1420-6038 has undergone extensive study in the search for counterparts, revealing the energetic young pulsar PSR J1420-6048 and its surrounding wind nebula as a likely candidate for at least part of the emission from this bright and extended gamma-ray source. We report on new Suzaku observations of PSR J1420-6048 along with analysis of archival XMM-Newton data. The low background of Suzaku permits mapping of the extended X-ray nebula, indicating a tail stretching ~8' north of the pulsar. The X-ray data, along with archival radio and very high energy data, hint at a pulsar birthsite to the north, and yield insights into its evolution and the properties of the ambient medium. We further explore such properties by modeling the spectral energy distribution of the extended nebula.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- March 2010
- DOI:
- 10.1088/0004-637X/711/2/1168
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1001.4807
- Bibcode:
- 2010ApJ...711.1168V
- Keywords:
-
- pulsars: individual: PSR J1420-6048;
- X-rays: general;
- Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
- E-Print:
- 16 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in ApJ