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An Upper Limit to Circularly Polarized Radiation from the Crab Nebula

Nature volume 215, pages 493–494 (1967)Cite this article

Abstract

RECENTLY a small intense source of low frequency radio emission has been detected in the Crab Nebula1,2. Subsequent investigations have revealed that this source has a flux spectral index of a α ∼ 1.2 (refs. 2 and 3), an angular diameter of ∼ 0.2 sec arc (refs. 3 and 4), and a brightness temperature of ∼ 1014 °K (ref. 4). Neither the thermal nor the synchrotron emission mechanisms can satisfactorily account for these characteristics3–5. Accordingly, a plasma mechanism, possibly similar to that of a solar flare, has been proposed4,5. It seems likely that such a mechanism would be associated with the stellar remnant of the supposed supernova which gave rise to the Crab Nebula, and a recent measurement of the position of the compact source indicates that it does indeed coincide with the position of the stellar remnant6.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radio and Electrical Engineering Division, National Research Council, Ottawa

    B. H. ANDREW & C. R. PURTON

  2. Cornell University, Arecibo Ionospheric Observatory*,

    Y. TERZIAN

Authors
  1. B. H. ANDREW
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  2. C. R. PURTON
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  3. Y. TERZIAN
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ANDREW, B., PURTON, C. & TERZIAN, Y. An Upper Limit to Circularly Polarized Radiation from the Crab Nebula. Nature 215, 493–494 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1038/215493a0

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