Bow Shocks from Neutron Stars: Scaling Laws and HST Observations of the Guitar Nebula

Details Bow Shocks from Neutron Stars: Scaling Laws and HST Observations of the Guitar Nebula Bow Shocks from Neutron Stars: Scaling Laws and HST Observations of the Guitar Nebula

2002-01-04

arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0201062v2

Astrophys.J. 575 (2002) 407

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

12 pages, 7 figures (3 degraded), submitted to ApJ; minor revisions and updates in response to referee report. (AASTeX, includ

Scientific paper

10.1086/341139

The interaction of high-velocity neutron stars with the interstellar medium produces bow shock nebulae, where the relativistic neutron star wind is confined by ram pressure. We present multi-wavelength observations of the Guitar Nebula, including narrow-band H-alpha imaging with HST/WFPC2, which resolves the head of the bow shock. The HST observations are used to fit for the inclination of the pulsar velocity vector to the line of sight, and to determine the combination of spindown energy loss, velocity, and ambient density that sets the scale of the bow shock. We find that the velocity vector is most likely in the plane of the sky. We use the Guitar Nebula and other observed neutron star bow shocks to test scaling laws for their size and H-alpha emission, discuss their prevalence, and present criteria for their detectability in targeted searches. The set of H-alpha bow shocks shows remarkable consistency, in spite of the expected variation in ambient densities and orientations. Together, they support the assumption that a pulsar's spindown energy losses are carried away by a relativistic wind that is indistinguishable from being isotropic. Comparison of H-alpha bow shocks with X-ray and nonthermal, radio-synchrotron bow shocks produced by neutron stars indicates that the overall shape and scaling is consistent with the same physics. It also appears that nonthermal radio emission and H-alpha emission are mutually exclusive in the known objects and perhaps in all objects.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Bow Shocks from Neutron Stars: Scaling Laws and HST Observations of the Guitar Nebula does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Bow Shocks from Neutron Stars: Scaling Laws and HST Observations of the Guitar Nebula, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Bow Shocks from Neutron Stars: Scaling Laws and HST Observations of the Guitar Nebula will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-140359