High-Energy Particles in the Wind Nebula of Pulsar B1509–58 as Seen by INTEGRAL

• Published in: The Astrophysical journal Vol. 651; no. 1; pp. L45 - L48
• Main Authors: Forot, M, Hermsen, W, Renaud, M, Laurent, P, Grenier, I, Goret, P, Khelifi, B, Kuiper, L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL IOP Publishing 01-11-2006; University of Chicago Press; American Astronomical Society
• Subjects: Astronomy; Astrophysics; Cosmology and Extra-Galactic Astrophysics; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Physics; Shock waves; Wind; Gamma radiation; 58; pulsars: individual PSR B1509; acceleration of particles; Pulsars; Particle acceleration; gamma rays: observations
• ISSN: 1538-4357; 0004-637X; 1538-4357
• DOI: 10.1086/509077

We present observations with the INTEGRAL IBIS telescope of the wind nebula powered by the young pulsar B1509-58, and we discuss the spatial and spectral properties of the unpulsed emission in the 20-200 keV energy band. The source extension and orientation along the northwest-southeast axis correspond to the jet emission seen at keV and TeV energies. The hard X-ray spectrum is consistent with the earlier BeppoSAX measurements. It follows a power law with a photon index a= -2.12 c 0.05 up to 160 keV. A possible break at this energy is found at the 2.9 aconfidence level. The 0.1-100 keV data are consistent with synchrotron aging of pairs in the jet and yield a magnetic field strength of 22-33 kG for a bulk velocity of 0.3c-0.5c. The synchrotron cutoff energy thus corresponds to a maximum electron energy of 400-730 TeV.