Resolving the Crab pulsar wind nebula at teraelectronvolt energies

H. Abdalla; F. Aharonian; F. Ait Benkhali; E.O. Angüner; M. Arakawa; C. Arcaro; C. Armand; M. Backes; M. Barnard; Y. Becherini; J. Becker Tjus; D. Berge; K. Bernlöhr; R. Blackwell; M. Böttcher; C. Boisson; J. Bolmont; S. Bonnefoy; P. Bordas; J. Bregeon; F. Brun; P. Brun; M. Bryan; M. Büchele; T. Bulik; T. Bylund; M. Capasso; S. Caroff; A. Carosi; S. Casanova; M. Cerruti; N. Chakraborty; T. Chand; S. Chandra; R.C.G. Chaves; A. Chen; S. Colafrancesco; B. Condon; I.D. Davids; C. Deil; J. Devin; P. Dewilt; L. Dirson; A. Djannati-Ataï; A. Dmytriiev; A. Donath; V. Doroshenko; L.O'C. Drury; J. Dyks; K. Egberts; G. Emery; J.P. Ernenwein; S. Eschbach; S. Fegan; A. Fiasson; G. Fontaine; S. Funk; M. Füßling; S. Gabici; Y.A. Gallant; F. Gaté; G. Giavitto; D. Glawion; J.F. Glicenstein; D. Gottschall; M.H. Grondin; J. Hahn; M. Haupt; G. Heinzelmann; G. Henri; G. Hermann; J.A. Hinton; W. Hofmann; C. Hoischen; T.L. Holch; M. Holler; D. Horns; D. Huber; H. Iwasaki; A. Jacholkowska; M. Jamrozy; D. Jankowsky; F. Jankowsky; L. Jouvin; I. Jung-Richardt; M.A. Kastendieck; K. Katarzyński; M. Katsuragawa; U. Katz; D. Khangulyan; B. Khélifi; J. King; S. Klepser; W. Kluźniak; Nu. Komin; K. Kosack; M. Kraus; G. Lamanna; J. Lau; J. Lefaucheur; A. Lemière; M. Lemoine-Goumard; J.P. Lenain; E. Leser; T. Lohse; R. López-Coto; I. Lypova; D. Malyshev; V. Marandon; A. Marcowith; C. Mariaud; G. Martí-Devesa; R. Marx; G. Maurin; P.J. Meintjes; A.M.W. Mitchell; R. Moderski; M. Mohamed; L. Mohrmann; C. Moore; E. Moulin; T. Murach; S. Nakashima; M. de Naurois; H. Ndiyavala; F. Niederwanger; J. Niemiec; L. Oakes; P. O'Brien; H. Odaka; S. Ohm; M. Ostrowski; I. Oya; M. Panter; R.D. Parsons; C. Perennes; P.O. Petrucci; B. Peyaud; Q. Piel; S. Pita; V. Poireau; A. Priyana Noel; D.A. Prokhorov; H. Prokoph; G. Pühlhofer; M. Punch; A. Quirrenbach; S. Raab; R. Rauth; A. Reimer; O. Reimer; M. Renaud; F. Rieger; L. Rinchiuso; C. Romoli; G. Rowell; B. Rudak; E. Ruiz-Velasco; V. Sahakian; S. Saito; D.A. Sanchez; A. Santangelo; M. Sasaki; R. Schlickeiser; F. Schüssler; A. Schulz; H. Schutte; U. Schwanke; S. Schwemmer; M. Seglar-Arroyo; M. Senniappan; A.S. Seyffert; N. Shafi; I. Shilon; K. Shiningayamwe; R. Simoni; A. Sinha; H. Sol; A. Specovius; M. Spir-Jacob; L. Stawarz; R. Steenkamp; C. Stegmann; C. Steppa; T. Takahashi; J.P. Tavernet; T. Tavernier; A.M. Taylor; R. Terrier; D. Tiziani; M. Tluczykont; C. Trichard; M. Tsirou; N. Tsuji; R. Tuffs; Y. Uchiyama; D.J. van der Walt; C. van Eldik; C. van Rensburg; B. van Soelen; G. Vasileiadis; J. Veh; C. Venter; P. Vincent; J. Vink; F. Voisin; H.J. Völk; T. Vuillaume; Z. Wadiasingh; S.J. Wagner; R.M. Wagner; R. White; A. Wierzcholska; R. Yang; H. Yoneda; D. Zaborov; M. Zacharias; R. Zanin; A.A. Zdziarski; A. Zech; A. Ziegler; J. Zorn; N. Żywucka

doi:10.1038/s41550-019-0910-0

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Resolving the Crab pulsar wind nebula at teraelectronvolt energies

Journal article

Open access

Resolving the Crab pulsar wind nebula at teraelectronvolt energies

H. Abdalla, F. Aharonian, F. Ait Benkhali, E.O. Angüner, M. Arakawa, C. Arcaro, C. Armand, M. Backes, M. Barnard, Y. Becherini, …

Nature Astron, Vol.4(2), pp.167-173

2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-019-0910-0

Abstract

gamma ray: VHE

gamma ray: energy

positron: energy

particle: acceleration

electron: relativistic

radio wave

energy loss: rotation

pulsar

electromagnetic

synchrotron

photon

magnetic field

accelerator

X-ray

gap

The Crab nebula is one of the most-studied cosmic particle accelerators, shining brightly across the entire electromagnetic spectrum up to very-high-energy gamma rays1,2. It is known from observations in the radio to gamma-ray part of the spectrum that the nebula is powered by a pulsar, which converts most of its rotational energy losses into a highly relativistic outflow. This outflow powers a pulsar wind nebula, a region of up to ten light-years across, filled with relativistic electrons and positrons. These particles emit synchrotron photons in the ambient magnetic field and produce very-high-energy gamma rays by Compton up-scattering of ambient low-energy photons. Although the synchrotron morphology of the nebula is well established, it has not been known from which region the very-high-energy gamma rays are emitted3,4,5,6,7,8. Here we report that the Crab nebula has an angular extension at gamma-ray energies of 52 arcseconds (assuming a Gaussian source width), much larger than at X-ray energies. This result closes a gap in the multi-wavelength coverage of the nebula, revealing the emission region of the highest-energy gamma rays. These gamma rays enable us to probe a previously inaccessible electron and positron energy range. We find that simulations of the electromagnetic emission reproduce our measurement, providing a non-trivial test of our understanding of particle acceleration in the Crab nebula.

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Title: Resolving the Crab pulsar wind nebula at teraelectronvolt energies
Creators - without role: H. Abdalla - North-West University
F. Aharonian - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
F. Ait Benkhali
E.O. Angüner - Aix-Marseille Université
M. Arakawa - Rikkyo University
C. Arcaro - North-West University
C. Armand - Laboratoire d’Annecy de Physique des Particules
M. Backes - North-West University
M. Barnard - North-West University
Y. Becherini - Linnaeus University
J. Becker Tjus
D. Berge - German Institute for Adult Education
K. Bernlöhr - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
R. Blackwell - University of Adelaide
M. Böttcher - North-West University
C. Boisson - Délégation Paris 7
J. Bolmont - Laboratoire de Physique Nucléaire et de Hautes Énergies
S. Bonnefoy - German Institute for Adult Education
P. Bordas - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
J. Bregeon - Université de Montpellier, Laboratoire Univers et Particules de Montpellier - LUPM
F. Brun - Université Paris-Saclay
P. Brun - Université Paris-Saclay
M. Bryan - University of Amsterdam
M. Büchele - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
T. Bulik - University of Warsaw
T. Bylund - Linnaeus University
M. Capasso - University of Tübingen
S. Caroff - École Polytechnique
A. Carosi - Université Savoie Mont Blanc
S. Casanova - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
M. Cerruti - Université Paris Cité
N. Chakraborty - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
T. Chand - North-West University
S. Chandra - North-West University
R.C.G. Chaves - Université de Montpellier, Laboratoire Univers et Particules de Montpellier - LUPM
A. Chen - University of the Witwatersrand
S. Colafrancesco - University of the Witwatersrand
B. Condon - Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules
I.D. Davids - University of Namibia
C. Deil - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
J. Devin - Université de Montpellier, Laboratoire Univers et Particules de Montpellier - LUPM
P. Dewilt - University of Adelaide
L. Dirson - Universität Hamburg
A. Djannati-Ataï - AstroParticule et Cosmologie
A. Dmytriiev - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres
A. Donath - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
V. Doroshenko - University of Tübingen
L.O'C. Drury
J. Dyks - Polish Academy of Sciences
K. Egberts - University of Potsdam
G. Emery - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
J.P. Ernenwein - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
S. Eschbach - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
S. Fegan - Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet
A. Fiasson - Laboratoire d’Annecy de Physique des Particules
G. Fontaine - Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet
S. Funk - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
M. Füßling - German Institute for Adult Education
S. Gabici - Sorbonne Paris Cité
Y.A. Gallant - Université de Montpellier, Laboratoire Univers et Particules de Montpellier - LUPM
F. Gaté - Laboratoire d’Annecy de Physique des Particules
G. Giavitto - German Institute for Adult Education
D. Glawion - Heidelberg University
J.F. Glicenstein - Université Paris-Saclay
D. Gottschall - University of Tübingen
M.H. Grondin - Laboratoire de Physique des deux infinis Bordeaux
J. Hahn - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
M. Haupt - German Institute for Adult Education
G. Heinzelmann - Universität Hamburg
G. Henri - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
G. Hermann - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
J.A. Hinton - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
W. Hofmann - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
C. Hoischen - University of Potsdam
T.L. Holch - Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
M. Holler - Universität Innsbruck
D. Horns - Universität Hamburg
D. Huber - Universität Innsbruck
H. Iwasaki - Rikkyo University
A. Jacholkowska - Laboratoire de Physique Nucléaire et de Hautes Énergies
M. Jamrozy - Jagiellonian University
D. Jankowsky - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
F. Jankowsky - Heidelberg University
L. Jouvin - Sorbonne Paris Cité
I. Jung-Richardt - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
M.A. Kastendieck - Universität Hamburg
K. Katarzyński - Nicolaus Copernicus University
M. Katsuragawa - Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe
U. Katz - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
D. Khangulyan - Rikkyo University
B. Khélifi - Sorbonne Paris Cité
J. King - Heidelberg University
S. Klepser - German Institute for Adult Education
W. Kluźniak - Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center
Nu. Komin - University of the Witwatersrand
K. Kosack - Université Paris-Saclay
M. Kraus - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
G. Lamanna - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
J. Lau - University of Adelaide
J. Lefaucheur - Délégation Paris 7
A. Lemière - Sorbonne Paris Cité
M. Lemoine-Goumard - Laboratoire de Physique des deux infinis Bordeaux
J.P. Lenain - Université Paris Cité
E. Leser - University of Potsdam
T. Lohse - Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
R. López-Coto - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
I. Lypova - German Institute for Adult Education
D. Malyshev - University of Tübingen
V. Marandon - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
A. Marcowith - Université de Montpellier, Laboratoire Univers et Particules de Montpellier - LUPM
C. Mariaud - Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet
G. Martí-Devesa - Universität Innsbruck
R. Marx - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
G. Maurin - Laboratoire d’Annecy de Physique des Particules
P.J. Meintjes - University of the Free State
A.M.W. Mitchell
R. Moderski - Polish Academy of Sciences
M. Mohamed - Heidelberg University
L. Mohrmann - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
C. Moore - University of Leicester
E. Moulin - Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives
T. Murach - German Institute for Adult Education
S. Nakashima - RIKEN
M. de Naurois - Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet
H. Ndiyavala - North-West University
F. Niederwanger - Universität Innsbruck
J. Niemiec - Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences
L. Oakes - Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
P. O'Brien
H. Odaka - The University of Tokyo
S. Ohm - German Institute for Adult Education
M. Ostrowski - Jagiellonian University
I. Oya
M. Panter - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
R.D. Parsons - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
C. Perennes - Laboratoire de Physique Nucléaire et de Hautes Énergies
P.O. Petrucci - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
B. Peyaud - Université Paris-Saclay
Q. Piel - Laboratoire d’Annecy de Physique des Particules
S. Pita - Université Paris Cité
V. Poireau - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
A. Priyana Noel
D.A. Prokhorov
H. Prokoph - German Institute for Adult Education
G. Pühlhofer - University of Tübingen
M. Punch - Université Paris Cité
A. Quirrenbach - Heidelberg University
S. Raab - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
R. Rauth - Universität Innsbruck
A. Reimer - Universität Innsbruck
O. Reimer - Universität Innsbruck
M. Renaud - Université de Montpellier, Laboratoire Univers et Particules de Montpellier - LUPM
F. Rieger - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
L. Rinchiuso - Université Paris-Saclay
C. Romoli - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
G. Rowell - University of Adelaide
B. Rudak - Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center
E. Ruiz-Velasco - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
V. Sahakian - A. Alikhanyan National Laboratory
S. Saito - Rikkyo University
D.A. Sanchez - Laboratoire d’Annecy de Physique des Particules
A. Santangelo - University of Tübingen
M. Sasaki - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
R. Schlickeiser - Ruhr University Bochum
F. Schüssler - Institut de Recherches sur les lois Fondamentales de l'Univers
A. Schulz - German Institute for Adult Education
H. Schutte - North-West University
U. Schwanke - Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
S. Schwemmer - Heidelberg University
M. Seglar-Arroyo - Université Paris-Saclay
M. Senniappan - Linnaeus University
A.S. Seyffert - North-West University
N. Shafi - University of the Witwatersrand
I. Shilon - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
K. Shiningayamwe - University of Namibia
R. Simoni - University of Amsterdam
A. Sinha - Sorbonne Paris Cité
H. Sol - Délégation Paris 7
A. Specovius - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
M. Spir-Jacob - Université Paris Cité
L. Stawarz
R. Steenkamp - University of Namibia
C. Stegmann - University of Potsdam
C. Steppa - University of Potsdam
T. Takahashi - Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe
J.P. Tavernet - Laboratoire de Physique Nucléaire et de Hautes Énergies
T. Tavernier - Institut de Recherche sur les Lois Fondamentales de l'Univers
A.M. Taylor - German Institute for Adult Education
R. Terrier - Université Paris Cité
D. Tiziani - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
M. Tluczykont - Universität Hamburg
C. Trichard - Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet
M. Tsirou - Université de Montpellier, Laboratoire Univers et Particules de Montpellier - LUPM
N. Tsuji - Rikkyo University
R. Tuffs - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
Y. Uchiyama - Rikkyo University
D.J. van der Walt - North-West University
C. van Eldik - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
C. van Rensburg - North-West University
B. van Soelen - University of the Free State
G. Vasileiadis - Université de Montpellier, Laboratoire Univers et Particules de Montpellier - LUPM
J. Veh - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
C. Venter - North-West University
P. Vincent - Laboratoire de Physique Nucléaire et de Hautes Énergies
J. Vink - University of Amsterdam
F. Voisin - University of Adelaide
H.J. Völk - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
T. Vuillaume - Laboratoire d’Annecy de Physique des Particules
Z. Wadiasingh - North-West University
S.J. Wagner - Heidelberg University
R.M. Wagner - Stockholm University
R. White - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
A. Wierzcholska - Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences
R. Yang - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
H. Yoneda - Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe
D. Zaborov - École Polytechnique
M. Zacharias - North-West University
R. Zanin - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
A.A. Zdziarski - Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center
A. Zech - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres
A. Ziegler - Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
J. Zorn - Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics
N. Żywucka - Jagiellonian University
Publication Details: Nature Astron, Vol.4(2), pp.167-173
Identifiers: 9933885309311
Academic Unit: Laboratoire Univers et Particules de Montpellier - LUPM
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article
Local Fields: hal-02483963