Magnetar nebulae can be rotationally powered

TL;DR

This paper shows that the nebula around the magnetar Swift 1834.9-0846 can be powered by the magnetar's rotation if environmental compression enhances adiabatic heating, making such nebulae more efficient.

Contribution

It demonstrates that magnetar nebulae can be rotationally powered under environmental compression, a novel insight into their energy mechanisms.

Findings

The nebula can be powered by rotation if compressed by the environment.

Adiabatic heating dominates cooling processes in this scenario.

Low spin-down power pulsars can host very efficient nebulae.

Abstract

A wind nebula generating extended X-ray emission was recently detected surrounding Swift 1834.9-0846. This is the first magnetar for which such a (pulsar) wind nebula (PWN) was found. I demonstrate that Swift 1834.9-0846's nebula can be rotationally-powered if it is being compressed by the environment. The physical reason behind this is the dominance of adiabatic heating over all other cooling and escape processes. This effect can happen only for pulsars of relatively low spin-down power and can make for very efficient nebulae. This contribution is based on previous work published in ApJ 835, article id. 54, 13 pp. (2017).