Monitoring the Crab Nebula with Chandra:A Search for the Location of the gamma-ray Flares

Martin C. Weisskopf

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arXiv · 1211.7109

Monitoring the Crab Nebula with Chandra:A Search for the Location of the gamma-ray Flares

Martin C. Weisskopf

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Abstract

Subsequent to announcements by the AGILE and by the Fermi-LAT teams of the discovery of gamma-ray flares from the Crab Nebula in the fall of 2010, an international collaboration has been monitoring X-Ray emission from the Crab on a regular basis using the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. Observations occur typically once per month when viewing constraints allow. The aim of the program is to characterize in depth the X-Ray variations within the Nebula, and, if possible, to much more precisely locate the origin of the gamma-ray flares. In 2011 April we triggered a set of Chandra Target-of-Opportunity observations in conjunction with the brightest gamma-ray flare yet observed. We briefly summarize the April X-ray observations and the information we have gleaned to date.

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Martin C. Weisskopf. 2012-12-26. Monitoring the Crab Nebula with Chandra:A Search for the Location of the gamma-ray Flares. https://arxiv.org/abs/1211.7109

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