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Resolving the Crab Nebula with Direct Hard X-Ray ImagingWe report the first direct hard (25--60 keV) X-ray imaging observation of the Crab Nebula that resolves structure to approximately 0.25 pc. The observation was performed over a 1.4 hour period during a balloon flight from Ft. Sumner, NM, on 2007 May 27. The source was detected in the energy band above the atmospheric cutoff at approx.25 keV and below the mirror graze angle cutoff at approx.60 keV. The image shows elongation about 25 degrees E of N in the direction along the plane of the torus (and perpendicular to the jet axis) with a slight surface-brightness enhancement NE of the pulsar. The spectrum within a 1.7 arcminute radius region centered on the Crab pulsar can be fitted with a Gamma=2 power law absorbed by an atmospheric column consistent with the balloon altitude at the time of observation.
Document ID
20080023406
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Swartz, Douglas A.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Ramsey, Brian D.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Tennant, Allyn F.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Dietz, Kurtis L.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Apple, Jeff A.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Gaskin, Jessica A.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Weisskopf, Martin
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
March 31, 2008
Subject Category
Astronomy
Meeting Information
Meeting: High Energy Astrophysics Division (HEAD) Meeting of the American Astronomical Society
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: March 31, 2008
End Date: April 3, 2008
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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