Magnetohydrodynamic Models for the Structure of Pulsar-Wind Nebulae

dc.creatorReynolds, Stephen P.
dc.date2003-08-27
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-07T02:09:19Z
dc.date.available2026-07-07T02:09:19Z
dc.descriptionThe Crab Nebula is well-described at optical wavelengths and above by a steady-state magnetohydrodynamic model due to Kennel and Coroniti (1984). Can this class of model describe other pulsar-wind nebulae? I exhibit simple generalizations of KC models,for various values of sigma, the ratio of magnetic to particle flux input at the wind shock. I calculate the evolution of the electron spectrum and synchrotron emissivity in the nebula assuming spherical symmetry, a steady state, and a purely toroidal magnetic field. Emission profiles depend on the initial magnetic field B_0, the electron spectral index s, and the angle of the toroidal axis with the line of sight, phi. I show integrated spectra and radial profiles for various cases, along with predicted variations of photon index Gamma with radius in X-rays. Most models predict much smaller sizes in X-rays, and curves of Gamma(r) which do not resemble observations. Further elaborations of the dynamics of PWNe seem necessary.
dc.description5 pages, submitted to Proceedings of IAU Colloquium 192, 10 Years of SN1993J (Valencia, Spain, April 2003)
dc.identifierhttps://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0308483
dc.identifierhttp://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0308483
dc.identifier.urihttp://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/6391
dc.subjectAstrophysics
dc.titleMagnetohydrodynamic Models for the Structure of Pulsar-Wind Nebulae
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