Spectral Variation of the Hard X-ray Emission from the Crab Nebula with the Suzaku Hard X-ray Detector

TL;DR

This study analyzes Suzaku HXD data to confirm year-scale flux variability in the Crab Nebula's hard X-ray emission and reveals spectral variations, suggesting multiple synchrotron components with different cooling times.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed spectral analysis of Crab Nebula variability in the hard X-ray band using Suzaku data, highlighting spectral changes and multiple emission components.

Findings

Flux variation confirmed in 25-100 keV band.

Spectral variations indicated by hardness ratios.

Multiple synchrotron components suggested.

Abstract

The Crab Nebula is one of the brightest and most stable sources in the X-ray sky. Year-scale flux variation from the object was recently revealed in the hard X-ray band by four satellites. This marked the first detection of year-scale variability from pulsar wind nebulae in the hard X-ray band. The Crab Nebula has been observed at least once a year for calibration purposes with the Suzaku Hard X-ray Detector (HXD) since its launch in 2005. In order to investigate possible spectral changes as well as flux variation, the archival data of the HXD were analyzed. The flux variation reported by other instruments was confirmed in the 25 -- 100 keV band by the HXD in a few percent level, but flux above 100 keV did not follow the trend in variation below 100 keV. The hardness ratios produced utilizing the PIN and GSO sensors installed in the HXD exhibit significant scattering, thereby indicating spectral variations in the hard X-ray. The spectral changes are quantified by spectral fitting with a broken power-law model. The difference between the two photon indexes of the broken power-law model in harder and softer energy bands is in the range of < 2.54. Taking into account flux variation of 6.3% and spectral variation time-scale of a few days, multi components of the broken power-law-shaped synchrotron emission with different cooling times are suggested.