The Infrared Detection of the Pulsar Wind Nebula in the Galactic Supernova Remnant 3C 58

TL;DR

This study uses infrared observations from space telescopes to analyze the pulsar wind nebula in supernova remnant 3C 58, revealing spectral features that inform models of nebula evolution.

Contribution

First infrared detection of the nebula and its torus in 3C 58, providing new spectral data to refine models of pulsar wind nebulae evolution.

Findings

Infrared fluxes align with X-ray spectrum extrapolation.

Spectral breaks occur between infrared and X-ray bands.

Complex spectrum indicates multiple particle injection processes.

Abstract

We present infrared observations of 3C 58 with the Spitzer Space Telescope and the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope. Using the IRAC camera, we have imaged the entire source resulting in clear detections of the nebula at 3.6 and 4.5 microns. The derived flux values are consistent with extrapolation of the X-ray spectrum to the infrared band, demonstrating that any cooling break in the synchrotron spectrum must occur near the soft X-ray band. We also detect the torus surrounding PSR J0205+6449, the 65 ms pulsar that powers 3C 58. The torus spectrum requires a break between the infrared and X-ray bands, and perhaps multiple breaks. This complex spectrum, which is an imprint of the particles injected into the nebula, has considerable consequences for the evolution of the broadband spectrum of 3C 58. We illustrate these effects and discuss the impact of these observations on the modeling of broadband spectra of pulsar wind nebulae.