Title:	Vela, its X-ray nebula, and the polarization of pulsar radiation
Authors:	Radhakrishnan, V. Deshpande, A.A.
Keywords:	X-ray:stars Neutron stars Wind Pulsars Vela Supernovae Polarization Radiation mechanisms: non-thermal
Issue Date:	Nov-2001
Publisher:	EDP Sciences
Citation:	Astronomy and Astrophysics, 2001, Vol.379, p551-556
Abstract:	The recent identification of the perpendicular mode of radio polarization as the primary one in the Vela pulsar by Lai et al. (2001) is interpreted in terms of the maser mechanism proposed by Luo & Melrose (1995). We suggest that such a mechanism may also be operative for the parallel mode which opens up the possibility of accounting for all types of polarization observed in pulsars. We propose an alternative interpretation of the arcs in the nebular X-radiation observed by Pavlov et al. (2000) and Helfand et al. (2001) with the Chandra Observatory, and interpreted by the latter as an equatorial wind. We interpret the arcs as traces of the particle beams from the two magnetic poles at the shock front. We also propose that the alignment with the rotation axis of the jet-like feature bisecting the arcs is an effect of projection on the sky plane and that there is no physical jet along the axis of rotation.
URI:	http://hdl.handle.net/2289/1623
ISSN:	0004-6361
Alternative Location:	http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0107382 http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361:20011321
Copyright:	(2001) by the European Southern Observatory (ESO)
Appears in Collections:	Research Papers (A&A)

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