On Calibrations Using the Crab Nebula and Models of the Nebular X-Ray Emission
Abstract
Motivated by a paper of Kirsch et al. on possible use of the Crab Nebula as a standard candle for calibrating X-ray response functions, we examine consequences of intrinsic departures from a single (absorbed) power law upon such calibrations. We limit our analyses to three more modern X-ray instruments—the ROSAT/PSPC, the RXTE/Proportional Counter Array, and the XMM-Newton/EPIC-pn (burst mode). The results indicate a need to refine two of the three response functions studied. We are also able to distinguish between two current theoretical models for the system spectrum.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- April 2010
- DOI:
- 10.1088/0004-637X/713/2/912
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1003.1916
- Bibcode:
- 2010ApJ...713..912W
- Keywords:
-
- instrumentation: miscellaneous;
- ISM: supernova remnants;
- methods: data analysis;
- pulsars: individual: Crab Pulsar;
- X-rays: individual: Crab Nebula;
- Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- 22 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ.