G359.13142-0.20005: a steep spectrum radio pulsar candidate with an X-ray counterpart running into the Galactic Centre Snake (G359.1-0.2)

F Yusef-Zadeh; Jun-Hui Zhao; R Arendt; M Wardle; C O Heinke; M Royster; C Lang; J Michail

doi:10.1093/mnras/stae549

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G359.13142-0.20005: a steep spectrum radio pulsar candidate with an X-ray counterpart running into the Galactic Centre Snake (G359.1-0.2)

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G359.13142-0.20005: a steep spectrum radio pulsar candidate with an X-ray counterpart running into the Galactic Centre Snake (G359.1-0.2)

F Yusef-Zadeh, Jun-Hui Zhao, R Arendt, M Wardle, C O Heinke, M Royster, C Lang and J Michail

Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Vol.530(1), pp.254-263

02/23/2024

DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stae549

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Abstract

ABSTRACT The Snake is a remarkable Galactic Centre radio filament with a morphology characterized by two kinks along its ∼20 arcmin extent. The major and minor kinks are located where the filament is most distorted from a linear magnetized structure running perpendicular to the Galactic plane. We present Chandra, VLA, and MeerKAT data and report the detection of an X-ray and radio source at the location of the major kink. High-resolution radio images of the major kink reveal a compact source with a steep spectrum with spectral index α ∼ −2.7 surrounded by extended emission. The radio luminosity and steep spectrum of the compact source are consistent with a pulsar. We also show flattening of the spectrum and enhanced synchrotron emissivity away from the position of the major kink along the Snake, which suggests injection of relativistic particles along the Snake. We argue that the major kink is created by a fast-moving (∼500–1000 km s−1) object punching into the Snake, distorting its magnetic structure, and producing X-ray emission. X-ray emission pinpoints an active acceleration site where the interaction is taking place. A secondary kink is argued to be induced by the impact of the high-velocity object producing the major kink.

cosmic rays

Galaxy: centre

pulsars: general

ISM: magnetic fields

Details

Title: Subtitle: G359.13142-0.20005: a steep spectrum radio pulsar candidate with an X-ray counterpart running into the Galactic Centre Snake (G359.1-0.2)
Creators: F Yusef-Zadeh - Northwestern University
Jun-Hui Zhao - Center for Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian
R Arendt
M Wardle - Macquarie University
C O Heinke - University of Alberta
M Royster
C Lang - University of Iowa, Physics and Astronomy
J Michail
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, Vol.530(1), pp.254-263
Publisher: Oxford University Press
DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stae549
ISSN: 0035-8711
eISSN: 1365-2966
Grant note: DOI: 10.13039/100000001, name: NSF, award: AST-2305857; DOI: 10.13039/100000104, name: NASA, award: 80GSFC21M0002
Language: English
Date published: 02/23/2024
Academic Unit: Liberal Arts and Science Admin; Physics and Astronomy
Record Identifier: 9984585957602771

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