arXiv subjects

C. L. Fryer

Publications and source records attributed to C. L. Fryer.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Selected topics on: 1) proposal of interpreting the Crab supernova with a GRB 2) progress in identifying the seven GRBs episodes 3) the role of Sagittarius A in identifying the dark matter component (the X fermion)

As the fiftieth anniversary of our common effort in the field of relativistic astrophysics is approaching, we offer a new look to some of our acquired knowledge in a more complete view, which evidence previous unnoticed connections. They are gaining due prominence in reaching a more complete picture evidencing the main results. We outline the history of GRB observations along with a summary of the contributions made by our group to develop the BdHN interpreting model. We show the seven Episodes characterizing the most powerful BdHNe I occurred to date: GRB 190114C and GRB 220101A. New inferences for the explanation of the highest energy radiation in the TeV are presented.

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arXiv2025

Evidence for Two SNe Type Triggering GRB 220101A: a Pair SN and a Rotating Magnetized Core Collapse SN

The traditional interpretation of gamma ray bursts (GRBs) as originating from a single black hole has been extended by the Binary Driven Hypernova (BdHN) model, in which a GRB arises from a binary system composed of a carbon oxygen (CO) core and a neutron star (NS) companion. This framework successfully reproduces the six canonical emission episodes observed in GRBs. Recent observations of energetic events, such as GRB 220101 and GRB 240825, suggest a more powerful variant involving a rapidly rotating, strongly magnetized CO core in a binary system with an NS. In this scenario, the collapse and possible fission of the CO core lead to the formation of a highly magnetized, rapidly rotating newborn neutron star. A pair instability supernova (pair SN) is triggered when rotation and magnetic effects drive the core to instability, influencing its collapse dynamics. This process results in a millisecond neutron star that later evolves into a pulsar. Concurrently, accretion of supernova ejecta onto the NS companion can induce its collapse into a black hole, powering high energy emission. This framework introduces two distinct classes of supernovae: (i) pair instability supernovae leaving no compact remnant, and (ii) magnetized, rotating core collapses producing pulsars. The model further incorporates the role of magnetic field amplification and magnetohydrodynamic processes, including the generation of overcritical fields and electron positron pair production. This represents a significant departure from earlier non rotating models and aligns with modern pair SN scenarios. BdHNe are characterized by seven physical episodes; notably, in pair SN cases, the final episode is not powered by radioactive nickel decay but by pulsar formation. These modifications are described within a leading order analytical framework.

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arXiv2025

EP 250108a/SN 2025kg: Observations of the most nearby Broad-Line Type Ic Supernova following an Einstein Probe Fast X-ray Transient

With a small sample of fast X-ray transients (FXTs) with multi-wavelength counterparts discovered to date, the progenitors of FXTs and their connections to gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and supernovae (SNe) remain ambiguous. Here, we present photometric and spectroscopic observations of SN 2025kg, the supernova counterpart to the FXT EP 250108a. At $z=0.17641$, this is the closest known SN discovered following an Einstein Probe (EP) FXT. We show that SN 2025kg's optical spectra reveal the hallmark features of a broad-lined Type Ic SN. Its light curve evolution and expansion velocities are also comparable to those of GRB-SNe, including SN 1998bw, and several past FXT SNe. We present JWST/NIRSpec spectroscopy taken around SN 2025kg's maximum light, and find weak absorption due to He I $λ1.0830, λ2.0581$ $μ$m and a broad, unidentified feature at $\sim$ 4-4.5 $μ$m. Further, we observe clear evidence for broadened H$α$ in optical data at 42.5 days that is not detected at other epochs, indicating interaction with hydrogen-rich material. From its light curve, we derive a $^{56}$Ni mass of 0.2 - 0.6 $M_{\odot}$. Together with our companion paper (Eyles-Ferris et al. 2025), our broadband data of EP 250108a/SN 2025kg are consistent with a trapped or low energy ($\lesssim 10^{51}$ ergs) jet-driven explosion from a collapsar with a zero-age main sequence mass of 15-30 $M_{\odot}$. Finally, we show that the sample of EP FXT SNe support past rate estimates that low-luminosity jets seen through FXTs are more common than successful (GRB) jets, and that similar FXT-like signatures are likely present in at least a few percent of the brightest Ic-BL SNe.

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arXiv2024

The long-short GRB connection

Long and short gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are thought to arise from different and unrelated astrophysical progenitors. The association of long GRBs with supernovae (SNe) and the difference in the distributions of galactocentric offsets of long and short GRBs within their host galaxies have often been considered strong evidence of their unrelated origins. Long GRBs have been thought to result from the collapse of single massive stars, while short GRBs come from mergers of compact object binaries. Our present study challenges this conventional view. We demonstrate that the observational properties, such as the association with SNe and the different galactic offsets, are naturally explained within the framework of the binary-driven hypernova model, suggesting an evolutionary connection between long and short GRBs.

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arXiv2024

Occurrence of gravitational collapse in the accreting neutron stars of binary-driven hypernovae

The binary-driven hypernova (BdHN) model proposes long gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) originate in binaries composed of a carbon-oxygen (CO) star and a neutron star (NS) companion. The CO core collapse generates a newborn NS and a supernova that triggers the GRB by accreting onto the NSs, rapidly transferring mass and angular momentum to them. This article aims to determine the conditions under which a black hole (BH) forms from NS collapse induced by the accretion and the impact on the GRB observational properties and taxonomy. We perform three-dimensional, smoothed-particle-hydrodynamics simulations of BdHNe using up-to-date NS nuclear equations of state (EOS), with and without hyperons, and calculate the structure evolution in full general relativity. We assess the binary parameters leading either NS in the binary to the critical mass for gravitational collapse into a BH and its occurrence time, $t_{\rm col}$. We include a non-zero angular momentum of the NSs and find that $t_{\rm col}$ ranges from a few tens of seconds to hours for decreasing NS initial angular momentum values. BdHNe I are the most compact (about five minutes orbital period), promptly form a BH and release $\gtrsim 10^{52}$ erg. They form NS-BH binaries with tens of kyr merger timescale by gravitational-wave emission. BdHNe II and III do not form BHs, release $\sim 10^{50}$-$10^{52}$ erg and $\lesssim 10^{50}$ erg. They form NS-NS binaries with a range of merger timescales larger than for NS-BH binaries. In some compact BdHNe II, either NS can become supramassive, i.e., above the critical mass of a non-rotating NS. Magnetic braking by a $10^{13}$ G field can delay BH formation, leading to BH-BH or NS-BH of tens of kyr merger timescale.

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arXiv2024

On the formation of compact-object binaries from binary-driven hypernovae

We present smoothed-particle-hydrodynamics (SPH) simulations of the binary-driven hypernova (BdHN) scenario of long gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), focusing on the binary stability during the supernova (SN) explosion. The BdHN progenitor is a binary comprised of a carbon-oxygen (CO) star and a neutron star (NS) companion. The core collapse of the CO leads to an SN explosion and a newborn NS ($ν$NS) at its center. Ejected material accretes onto the NS and the $ν$NS. BdHNe of type I have compact orbits of a few minutes, the NS reaches the critical mass, forming a black hole (BH), and the energy release is $\gtrsim 10^{52}$ erg. BdHNe II have longer periods of tens of minutes to hours; the NS becomes more massive, remains stable, and the system releases $\sim 10^{50}$-$10^{52}$ erg. BdHN III have longer periods, even days, where the accretion is negligible, and the energy released is $\lesssim 10^{50}$ erg. We assess whether the system remains gravitationally bound after the SN explosion, leading to an NS-BH in BdHN I, an NS-NS in BdHN II and III, or if the SN explosion disrupts the system. The existence of bound systems predicts an evolutionary connection between the long and short GRB populations. We determine the binary parameters for which the binary remains bound after the BdHN event. For these binaries, we derive fitting formulas of the numerical results for the main parameters, e.g., the mass loss, the SN explosion energy, orbital period, eccentricity, center-of-mass velocity, and the relation between the initial and final binary parameters, which are useful for outlined astrophysical applications.

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arXiv2023

Fermi-GBM Discovery of GRB 221009A: An Extraordinarily Bright GRB from Onset to Afterglow

We report the discovery of GRB 221009A, the highest flux gamma-ray burst ever observed by the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM). This GRB has continuous prompt emission lasting more than 600 seconds which smoothly transitions to afterglow visible in the GBM energy range (8 keV--40 MeV), and total energetics higher than any other burst in the GBM sample. By using a variety of new and existing analysis techniques we probe the spectral and temporal evolution of GRB 221009A. We find no emission prior to the GBM trigger time (t0; 2022 October 9 at 13:16:59.99 UTC), indicating that this is the time of prompt emission onset. The triggering pulse exhibits distinct spectral and temporal properties suggestive of the thermal, photospheric emission of shock-breakout, with significant emission up to $\sim$15 MeV. We characterize the onset of external shock at t0+600 s and find evidence of a plateau region in the early-afterglow phase which transitions to a slope consistent with Swift-XRT afterglow measurements. We place the total energetics of GRB 221009A in context with the rest of the GBM sample and find that this GRB has the highest total isotropic-equivalent energy ($\textrm{E}_{γ,\textrm{iso}}=1.0\times10^{55}$ erg) and second highest isotropic-equivalent luminosity ($\textrm{L}_{γ,\textrm{iso}}=9.9\times10^{53}$ erg/s) based on redshift of z = 0.151. These extreme energetics are what allowed us to observe the continuously emitting central engine of GBM from the beginning of the prompt emission phase through the onset of early afterglow.

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arXiv2023

Constraining inputs to realistic kilonova simulations through comparison to observed $r$-process abundances

Kilonovae, one source of electromagnetic emission associated with neutron star mergers, are powered by the decay of radioactive isotopes in the neutron-rich merger ejecta. Models for kilonova emission consistent with the electromagnetic counterpart to GW170817 predict characteristic abundance patterns, determined by the relative balance of different types of material in the outflow. Assuming the observed source is prototypical, this inferred abundance pattern in turn must match $r$-process abundances deduced by other means, such as what is observed in the solar system. We report on analysis comparing the input mass-weighted elemental compositions adopted in our radiative transfer simulations to the mass fractions of elements in the Sun, as a practical prototype for the potentially universal abundance signature from neutron-star mergers. We characterize the extent to which our parameter inference results depend on our assumed composition for the dynamical and wind ejecta and examine how the new results compare to previous work. We find that a dynamical ejecta composition calculated using the FRDM2012 nuclear mass and FRLDM fission models with extremely neutron-rich ejecta ($Y_{\rm{e}} = 0.035$) along with moderately neutron-rich ($Y_{\rm e} = 0.27$) wind ejecta composition yields a wind-to-dynamical mass ratio of $M_{\rm{w}}/M_{\rm{d}}$ = 0.47 which best matches the observed AT2017gfo kilonova light curves while also producing the best-matching abundance of neutron-capture elements in the solar system.

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arXiv2023

GRB 171205A: Hypernova and Newborn Neutron Star

GRB 171205A is a low-luminosity, long-duration gamma-ray burst (GRB) associated with SN 2017iuk, a broad-line type Ic supernova (SN). It is consistent with being formed in the core-collapse of a widely separated binary, which we have called the binary-driven hypernova (BdHN) of type III. The core-collapse of the CO star forms a newborn NS ($ν$NS) and the SN explosion. Fallback accretion transfers mass and angular momentum to the $ν$NS, here assumed to be born non-rotating. The accretion energy injected into the expanding stellar layers powers the prompt emission. The multiwavelength power-law afterglow is explained by the synchrotron radiation of electrons in the SN ejecta, powered by energy injected by the spinning $ν$NS. We calculate the amount of mass and angular momentum gained by the $ν$NS, as well as the $ν$NS rotational evolution. The $ν$NS spins up to a period of $47$ ms, then releases its rotational energy powering the synchrotron emission of the afterglow. The paucity of the $ν$NS spin explains the low-luminosity characteristic and that the optical emission of the SN from the nickel radioactive decay outshines the optical emission from the synchrotron radiation. From the $ν$NS evolution, we infer that the SN explosion had to occur at most $7.36$ h before the GRB trigger. Therefore, for the first time, the analysis of the GRB data leads to the time of occurrence of the CO core-collapse leading to the SN explosion and the electromagnetic emission of the GRB event.

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arXiv2022

Black hole - neutron star mergers: The first mass gap and kilonovae

Observations of X-ray binaries indicate a dearth of compact objects in the mass range from $\sim 2-5 M_{\odot}$. The existence of this (first mass) gap has been used to discriminate between proposed engines behind core-collapse supernovae. From LIGO/Virgo observations of binary compact remnant masses, several candidate first mass gap objects (either neutron stars (NSs) or black holes (BHs)) were identified during the O3 science run. Motivated by these new observations, we study the formation of BH-NS mergers in the framework of isolated classical binary evolution, using population synthesis methods to evolve large populations of binary stars (Population I and II) across cosmic time. We present results on the NS to BH mass ratios ($q=M_{\rm NS}/M_{\rm BH}$) in merging systems, showing that although systems with a mass ratio as low as $q=0.02$ can exist, typically BH-NS systems form with moderate mass ratios $q=0.1-0.2$. If we adopt a delayed supernova engine, we conclude that $\sim 30\%$ of BH-NS mergers may host at least one compact object in the first mass gap (FMG$^\circ$). Even allowing for uncertainties in the processes behind compact object formation, we expect the fraction of BH-NS systems ejecting mass during the merger to be small (from $\sim 0.6-9\%$). In our reference model, we assume: (i) the formation of compact objects within the FMG, (ii) natal NS/BH kicks decreased by fallback, (iii) low BH spins due to Tayler-Spruit angular momentum transport in massive stars. We find that $\lesssim 1\%$ of BH-NS mergers will have any mass ejection and about the same percentage will produce kilonova bright enough to have a chance of being detected with a large (Subaru-class) $8$m telescope. Interestingly, all these mergers will have both a BH and an NS in the FMG.

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arXiv2022

A nearby long gamma-ray burst from a merger of compact objects

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are flashes of high-energy radiation arising from energetic cosmic explosions. Bursts of long (>2 s) duration are produced by the core-collapse of massive stars, those of short (< 2 s) duration by the merger of two neutron stars (NSs). A third class of events with hybrid high-energy properties was identified, but never conclusively linked to a stellar progenitor. The lack of bright supernovae rules out typical core-collapse explosions, but their distance scales prevent sensitive searches for direct signatures of a progenitor system. Only tentative evidence for a kilonova has been presented. Here we report observations of the exceptionally bright GRB211211A that classify it as a hybrid event and constrain its distance scale to only 346 Mpc. Our measurements indicate that its lower-energy (from ultraviolet to near-infrared) counterpart is powered by a luminous (~1E42 erg/s) kilonova possibly formed in the ejecta of a compact binary merger.

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arXiv2022

Actinide opacities for modeling the spectra and light curves of kilonovae

We extend previous ab initio calculations of lanthanide opacities (Fontes et al., 2020, MNRAS, 493, 4143) to include a complete set of actinide opacities for use in the modeling of kilonova light curves and spectra. Detailed, fine-structure line features are generated using the configuration-interaction approach. These actinide opacities display similar trends to those observed for lanthanide opacities, such as the lighter actinides producing higher opacity than the heavier ones for relevant conditions in the dynamical ejecta. A line-binned treatment is employed to pre-compute opacity tables for 14 actinide elements $(89 \le Z \le 102)$ over a grid of relevant temperatures and densities. These tabular opacities will be made publicly available for general usage in kilonova modeling. We demonstrate the usefulness of these opacities in kilonova simulations by exploring the sensitivity of light curves and spectra to different actinide abundance distributions that are predicted by different nuclear theories, as well as to different choices of ejecta mass and velocity. We find very little sensitivity to the two considered distributions, indicating that opacities for actinides with $Z \ge 99$ do not contribute strongly. On the other hand, a single actinide element, protactinium, is found to produce faint spectral features in the far infrared at late times (5-7 days post merger). More generally, we find that the choice of ejecta mass and velocity have the most significant effect on KN emission for this study.

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arXiv2022

Interpolating Detailed Simulations of Kilonovae: Adaptive Learning and Parameter Inference Applications

Detailed radiative transfer simulations of kilonovae are difficult to apply directly to observations; they only sparsely cover simulation parameters, such as the mass, velocity, morphology, and composition of the ejecta. On the other hand, semianalytic models for kilonovae can be evaluated continuously over model parameters, but neglect important physical details which are not incorporated in the simulations, thus introducing systematic bias. Starting with a grid of 2D anisotropic simulations of kilonova light curves covering a wide range of ejecta properties, we apply adaptive-learning techniques to iteratively choose new simulations and produce high-fidelity surrogate models for those simulations. These surrogate models allow for continuous evaluation across model parameters while retaining the microphysical details about the ejecta. Using a new code for multimessenger inference, we demonstrate how to use our interpolated models to infer kilonova parameters. Comparing to inferences using simplified analytic models, we recover different ejecta properties. We discuss the implications of this analysis which is qualitatively consistent with similar previous work using detailed ejecta opacity calculations and which illustrates systematic challenges for kilonova modeling. An associated data and code release provides our interpolated light-curve models, interpolation implementation which can be applied to reproduce our work or extend to new models, and our multimessenger parameter inference engine.

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arXiv2021

A Broad Grid of 2D Kilonova Emission Models

Depending upon the properties of their compact remnants and the physics included in the models, simulations of neutron star mergers can produce a broad range of ejecta properties. The characteristics of this ejecta, in turn, define the kilonova emission. To explore the effect of ejecta properties, we present a grid of 2-component 2D axisymmetric kilonova simulations that vary mass, velocity, morphology, and composition. The masses and velocities of each component vary, respectively, from 0.001 to 0.1 M$_{\odot}$ and 0.05 to 0.3$c$, covering much of the range of results from the neutron star merger literature. The set of 900 models is constrained to have a toroidal low electron fraction ($Y_e$) ejecta with a robust r-process composition and either a spherical or lobed high-$Y_e$ ejecta with two possible compositions. We simulate these models with the Monte Carlo radiative transfer code SuperNu using a full suite of lanthanide and 4th row element opacities. We examine the trends of these models with parameter variation, show how it can be used with statistical tools, and compare the model light curves and spectra to those of AT2017gfo, the electromagnetic counterpart of GW170817.

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arXiv2021

A tale of two mergers: constraints on kilonova detection in two short GRBs at z$\sim$0.5

We present a detailed multi-wavelength analysis of two short Gamma-Ray Bursts (sGRBs) detected by the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory: GRB 160624A at $z=0.483$ and GRB 200522A at $z=0.554$. These sGRBs demonstrate very different properties in their observed emission and environment. GRB 160624A is associated to a late-type galaxy with an old stellar population ($\approx$3 Gyr) and moderate on-going star formation ($\approx$1 $M_{\odot}$ yr$^{-1}$). Hubble and Gemini limits on optical/nIR emission from GRB 160624A are among the most stringent for sGRBs, leading to tight constraints on the allowed kilonova properties. In particular, we rule out any kilonova brighter than AT2017gfo, disfavoring large masses of wind ejecta ($\lesssim$0.03 $M_\odot$). In contrast, observations of GRB 200522A uncovered a luminous ($L_\textrm{F125W}\approx 10^{42}$ erg s$^{-1}$ at 2.3~d) and red ($r-H\approx 1.3$ mag) counterpart. The red color can be explained either by bright kilonova emission powered by the radioactive decay of a large amount of wind ejecta (0.03 $M_\odot$ $\lesssim$ $M$ $\lesssim$ 0.1 $M_\odot$) or moderate extinction, $E(B-V)\approx0.1-0.2$ mag, along the line of sight. The location of this sGRB in the inner regions of a young ($\approx$0.1 Gyr) star-forming ($\approx$2-6 $M_{\odot}$ yr$^{-1}$) galaxy and the limited sampling of its counterpart do not allow us to rule out dust effects as contributing, at least in part, to the red color.

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arXiv2020

A search for optical and near-infrared counterparts of the compact binary merger GW190814

We report on our observing campaign of the compact binary merger GW190814, detected by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors on August 14th, 2019. This signal has the best localisation of any observed gravitational wave (GW) source, with a 90% probability area of 18.5 deg$^2$, and an estimated distance of ~ 240 Mpc. We obtained wide-field observations with the Deca-Degree Optical Transient Imager (DDOTI) covering 88% of the probability area down to a limiting magnitude of $w$ = 19.9 AB. Nearby galaxies within the high probability region were targeted with the Lowell Discovery Telescope (LDT), whereas promising candidate counterparts were characterized through multi-colour photometry with the Reionization and Transients InfraRed (RATIR) and spectroscopy with the Gran Telescopio de Canarias (GTC). We use our optical and near-infrared limits in conjunction with the upper limits obtained by the community to constrain the possible electromagnetic counterparts associated with the merger. A gamma-ray burst seen along its jet's axis is disfavoured by the multi-wavelength dataset, whereas the presence of a burst seen at larger viewing angles is not well constrained. Although our observations are not sensitive to a kilonova similar to AT2017gfo, we can rule out high-mass (> 0.1 M$_{\odot}$) fast-moving (mean velocity >= 0.3c) wind ejecta for a possible kilonova associated with this merger.

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arXiv2020

The evolutionary roads leading to low effective spins, high black hole masses, and O1/O2 rates of LIGO/Virgo binary black holes

All ten LIGO/Virgo binary black hole (BH-BH) coalescences reported from the O1/O2 runs have near zero effective spins. There are only three potential explanations of this fact. If the BH spin magnitudes are large then (i) either both BH spin vectors must be nearly in the orbital plane or (ii) the spin angular momenta of the BHs must be oppositely directed and similar in magnitude. Or, (iii) the BH spin magnitudes are small. We test the third hypothesis within the framework of the classical isolated binary evolution scenario of the BH-BH merger formation. We test three models of angular momentum transport in massive stars: a mildly efficient transport by meridional currents (as employed in the Geneva code), an efficient transport by the Tayler-Spruit magnetic dynamo (as implemented in the MESA code), and a very-efficient transport (as proposed by Fuller et al.) to calculate natal BH spins. We allow for binary evolution to increase the BH spins through accretion and account for the potential spin-up of stars through tidal interactions. Additionally, we update the calculations of the stellar-origin BH masses, include revisions to the history of star formation and to the chemical evolution across cosmic time. We find that we can match simultaneously the observed BH-BH merger rate density, BH masses, and effective spins. Models with efficient angular momentum transport are favored. The updated stellar-mass weighted gas-phase metallicity evolution now used in our models appears to be a key in better reproducing the LIGO/Virgo merger rate estimate. Mass losses during the pair-instability pulsation supernova phase are likely overestimated if the merger GW170729 hosts a BH more massive than 50 Msun. We also estimate rate of BH-NS mergers from recent LIGO/Virgo observations. Our updated models of BH-BH, BH-NS and NS-NS mergers are now publicly available at www.syntheticuniverse.org.

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arXiv2020

NuSTAR observations of G11.2-0.3

We present in this paper the hard X-ray view of the pulsar wind nebula in G11.2-0.3 and its central pulsar PSR J1811-1925 as seen by NuSTAR. We complement the data with Chandra for a more complete picture and confirm the existence of a hard, power-law component in the shell with photon index Gamma = 2.1 +/- 0.1, which we attribute to synchrotron emission. Our imaging observations of the shell show a slightly smaller radius at higher energies, consistent with Chandra results, and we find shrinkage as a function of increased energy along the jet direction, indicating that the electron outflow in the PWN may be simpler than that seen in other young PWNe. Combining NuSTAR with Integral, we find that the pulsar spectrum can be fit by a power-law with Gamma=1.32 +/- 0.07 up to 300 keV without evidence of curvature.

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