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F.D. Seward, P. Gorenstein, P.O. Slane, W.H. Tucker (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory), R. Smith (Goddard Space Flight Center), R.A. Fesen (Dartmouth College)
Using two Chandra observations, we have searched for an "outer shell"around the Crab Nebula. Although coverage is not 100 Crab Pulsar (corresponding to an average shock velocity of 11,000 km/s). The observed Nebula is surrounded by a bright X-ray halo due to scattering from the Chandra mirrors and from interstellar dust. No evidence for a blast wave or shock-related X-ray emission is found in this halo. Upper limits for the brightness of an outer shell are derived.
One pointing mapped the faint outer extent of the X-ray synchrotron nebula (or PWN) inside the optical Crab. The outer part of the PWN contains brush-like fingers, loops, clouds, and the termination of the south on-axis pulsar jet. Morphology and spectra are being studied to determine the nature of these features.
This work was supported by Chandra Grants GO2-3087X and GO4-5059X.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 36 #3
© 2004. The American Astronomical Soceity.