The XMM-Newton view of the crab
Kirsch MGF, Schönherr G, Kendziorra E, Freyberg M, Martin M, Wilms J, Mukerjee K, Breitfellner M, Smith MJS, Staubert R (2006)
Publication Status: Published
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2006
Journal
Publisher: EDP SCIENCES S A
Book Volume: 453
Pages Range: 173-180
Journal Issue: 1
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20054783
Abstract
Aims. We discuss the current X-ray view of the Crab Nebula and Pulsar, summarising our analysis of observations of the source with the EPIC-pn camera on board the XMM-Newton observatory. Different modes of EPIC-pn were combined in order to yield a complete scenario of the spectral properties of the Crab resolved in space and time ( pulse phase). In addition we give a description of the special EPIC-pn Burst mode and guidance for data reduction in that mode.Methods. We analysed spectra for the nebula and pulsar separately in the 0.6-12.0 keV energy band. All data were processed with the SAS 6.0.0 XMM-Newton Scientific Analysis System package; models were fitted to the data with XSPEC 11. The high time resolution of EPIC-pn in its Burst mode (7 mu s) was used for a phase resolved analysis of the pulsar spectrum, after determination of the period with epoch folding techniques. Data from the Small Window mode were processed and corrected for pile-up allowing for spectroscopy simultaneously resolved in space and time.Results. The spatial variation of the spectrum over the entire region of the Crab shows a gradual spectral softening from the inner pulsar region to the outer nebula region with a variation in photon index, Gamma, from 2.0 to 2.4. Pulse phase resolved spectroscopy of the Crab Pulsar reveals a phase dependent modulation of the photon index in form of a significant hardening of the spectrum in the inter-peak phase from Gamma = 1.7 during the pulse peak to Gamma = 1.5.
Authors with CRIS profile
Gabriele Schönherr
Dr.Karl-Remeis-Sternwarte Bamberg, Astronomisches Institut
Jörn Wilms
Professur für Astronomie und Astrophysik
Involved external institutions
Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen
Germany (DE)
European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC)
Spain (ES)
Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik (MPE) / Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
Germany (DE)
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR)
India (IN)
European Space Agency (ESA)
France (FR)
Germany (DE)
European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC)
Spain (ES)
Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik (MPE) / Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics
Germany (DE)
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR)
India (IN)
European Space Agency (ESA)
France (FR)
How to cite
APA:
Kirsch, M.G.F., Schönherr, G., Kendziorra, E., Freyberg, M., Martin, M., Wilms, J.,... Staubert, R. (2006). The XMM-Newton view of the crab. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 453(1), 173-180. https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20054783
MLA:
Kirsch, Marcus G F, et al. "The XMM-Newton view of the crab." Astronomy & Astrophysics 453.1 (2006): 173-180.
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