Theory & observations of the PWN-SNR complex

TL;DR

This paper combines theoretical modeling and observational analysis of pulsar wind nebulae, supernova remnants, and magnetars to understand their spectra, evolution, and formation mechanisms, with a focus on gamma-ray and X-ray observations.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed spectral code for young PWNe and systematically studies their properties, also analyzing SNRs with magnetars to explore their formation and energetics.

Findings

Correlations between PWN parameters and TeV detectability

Spectral modeling explains the absence of TeV detection in some PWNe

X-ray analysis supports the alpha-dynamo mechanism for magnetar formation

Abstract

In this work, we study theoretical and observational issues about pulsars (PSRs), pulsar wind nebulae (PWNe) and supernova remnants (SNRs). In particular, the spectral modeling of young PWNe and the X-ray analysis of SNRs with magnetars comparing their characteristics with those remnants surrounding canonical pulsars. The spectra of PWNe range from radio to $\gamma$-rays. They are the largest class of identified Galactic sources in $\gamma$-rays increasing the number from 1 to $\sim$30 during the last years. We have developed a detailed spectral code which reproduces the electromagnetic spectrum of PWNe in free expansion ($t_{age} \lesssim$10 kyr). We shed light and try to understand issues on time evolution of the spectra, the synchrotron self-Compton dominance in the Crab Nebula, the particle dominance in PWNe detected at TeV energies and how physical parameters constrain the detectability of PWNe at TeV. We make a systematic study of all Galactic, TeV-detected, young PWNe which allows to find correlations and trends between parameters. We also discuss about the spectrum of those PWNe not detected at TeV and if models with low magnetized nebulae can explain the lack of detection or, on the contrary, high-magnetization models are more favorable. Regarding the X-ray analysis of SNRs, we use X-ray spectroscopy in SNRs with magnetars to discuss about the formation mechanism of such extremely magnetized PSRs. The alpha-dynamo mechanism proposed in the 1990's produces an energy release that should have influence in the energy of the SN explosion. We extend the work done previously done by \cite{vink06} about the energetics of the SN explosion looking for this energy release and we look for the element ionization and the X-ray luminosity and we compare our results with other SNRs with an associated central source.