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Article
Chandra Observation of Supernova Remnant G54.1+0.3: A Close Cousin of the Crab Nebula
The Astrophysical Journal Letters
  • FJ Lu
  • QD Wang, University of Massachusetts - Amherst
  • B Aschenbach
  • P Durouchoux
  • LM Song
Publication Date
2002
Abstract

We present a Chandra Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer observation of supernova remnant G54.1+0.3. This supernova remnant is resolved into several distinct X-ray-emitting components: a central bright pointlike source (CXOU J193030.13+185214.1), a surrounding ring, bipolar elongations, plus low surface brightness diffuse emission. The spectra of these components are all well described by power-law models; the spectral index steepens with increasing distance from the pointlike source. We find no evidence for any thermal plasma emission that would correspond to shocked interstellar medium or ejecta. The observed morphological and spectral characteristics suggest that G54.1+0.3 is the closest "cousin" of the Crab Nebula—a pulsar wind nebula driven by a combination of equatorial and polar outflows from the putative pulsar represented by the pointlike X-ray source.

Comments

This is the pre-published version harvested from ArXiv. The published version is located at http://iopscience.iop.org/1538-4357/568/1/L49/

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1086/340137
Pages
L49
Citation Information
FJ Lu, QD Wang, B Aschenbach, P Durouchoux, et al.. "Chandra Observation of Supernova Remnant G54.1+0.3: A Close Cousin of the Crab Nebula" The Astrophysical Journal Letters Vol. 568 Iss. 1 (2002)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/daniel_wang/7/