The Crab Nebula is one of the most studied supernova remnants and yet it is still guarding some of its secret . Well , for now . Swedish researchers have used a telescope on an atmospherical balloon to peer aright into its core and understand how the knock-down X - shaft of light flare it emits are produced .
As explained inScientific Reports , the XTC - ray of light flare seem to come from a thick region close to the pulsar , a type of neutron star . The watching propose that a donut - work magnetized field could be the source of the flares .
“ Our mensuration indicate that the X - rays come from an organized part in the vicinity of the pulsar at the substance of the nebula , " track author Mark Pearce , from the KTH Royal Institute of Technology , said in astatement . " electron gyrating around magnetised field lines in this part bring forth the go - ray . The measurement are made in an unexplored vim ambit , so they supply new information which will aid to solve the puzzle of how high Energy Department radiation sickness is generated . ”
To discover the X - re producing region , the team look at the polarization of its light source . photon in polarized light oscillate all in the same direction and there are only a few ways for astrophysical informant to make them . What they saw is likely consistent with the magnetic field scenario they model .
Pulsars – and neutron star , in ecumenical – are complex aim and there ’s still much we need to sympathise about them . They are the product of supernova explosion when the star is not quite monolithic enough to form a bleak golf hole . The supernova that create the Crab Nebula was actually observed in 1054 CE and recorded by Chinese uranologist .
“ Neutron star topology are captivating objects , ” Pearce explain . “ The Crab pulsar rotates around an axis 30 clip per second producing flashbulb of X - electron beam – a sort of cosmic lighthouse . The X - rays arise from the acceleration of electrons in intense magnetized landing field ( 10 trillion fourth dimension strong than the Earth ’s magnetic field ) , up to energy typically a hundred metre higher than obtainable at the LHC accelerator . ”
The observations were possible thanks to thePoGO+ telescope , which was design by the KTH Royal Institute of Technology with the specific object lens of studying the Crab Nebula and Cygnus X-1 , a stellar calamitous yap . Last summertime , the scope was attached to a balloon and was lifted to an altitude of 40 kilometre ( 25 miles ) where it observed the two sources for six day before safely get back down to Earth .
