Published in:
Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan, 63 (2011) sp3, Seite S827-S836
Language:
English
DOI:
10.1093/pasj/63.sp3.s827
ISSN:
0004-6264;
2053-051X
Origination:
Footnote:
Description:
Abstract Vela X is a large, 3 $^{\circ}$$\times$ 2 $^{\circ}$ , radio-emitting pulsar wind nebula (PWN) powered by the Vela pulsar in the Vela supernova remnant. Using four Suzaku/XIS observations pointed just outside Vela X, we have found hard X-ray emission extending throughout the fields of view. The hard X-ray spectra are well represented by a power-law. The photon index was measured to be constant at $\Gamma$$\sim$ 2.4, similar to that of the southern outer part of Vela X. The power-law flux decreases with increasing distance from the pulsar. These properties lead us to propose that the hard X-ray emission is associated with the Vela PWN. The larger X-ray extension found in this work strongly suggests that distinct populations of relativistic electrons form the X-ray PWN and Vela X, as was recently inferred from multiwavelength spectral modeling of Vela X.