Rapid X-ray variations of the Geminga pulsar wind nebula

Abstract

A recent study by Posselt et al. (2017) reported the deepest X-ray investigation of the Geminga pulsar wind nebula (PWN) by using \emph{Chandra X-ray Observatory}. In comparison with previous studies of this system, a number of new findings have been reported and we found these suggest the possible variabilities in various components of this PWN. This motivates us to carry out a dedicated search for the morphological and spectral variations of this complex nebula. We have discovered variabilities on timescales from a few days to a few months from different components of the nebula. The fastest change occurred in the circumstellar environment at a rate of 80 per cent of the speed of light. One of the most spectacular results is the wiggling of a half light-year long tail as an extension of the jet, which is significantly bent by the ram pressure. The jet wiggling occurred at a rate of about 20 per cent of the speed of light. This twisted structure can possibly be a result of a propagating torsional Alfven wave. We have also found evidence of spectral hardening along this tail for a period of about nine months.

arXiv comment23 pages, 14 figures, 4 tables, Accepted for publication in ApJ

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• Consequences of Energetic Magnetar-Like Outbursts of Nearby Neutron Stars: ${}^{14}$C Events and the Cosmic Electron Spectrum
• Discovery of an X-ray nebula in the field of millisecond pulsar PSR J1911-1114
• A mechanism-independent methodology for modeling γ-ray phaseograms of pulsars in the framework of north-south symmetry
• A Variable X-ray Source Close to the Magnetar SGR 1935+2154
• Method for testing diffusive shock acceleration and diffusion propagation of 1-100 TeV cosmic electrons with multiwavelength observations of the Geminga halo and pulsar wind nebula