IGR J11014-6103

The pulsar IGR J1104-6103 with supernova remnant origin, nebula and jet

IGR J11014-6103, aka Lighthouse Nebula for its distinctive wind nebula, has the largest jet observed in the Milky Way Galaxy. Fortunately this neutron star is not obscured by explosion debris or accretion material. Numbers in this paragraph are tentative. In the composite image shown (click on image to enlarge) the rapidly spinning neutron star (or pulsar) is the point-like object with a wind nebula tail trailing behind it for about 3 light years. The JET, aligned with the pulsar’s rotation axis, is perpendicular to the pulsar's trajectory and reportedly extends out over 37 light years (about 10X the distance from our solar system to the nearest star). The estimated jet velocity is 0.8c. This high speed runaway pulsar was created and ejected about 10 - 20 thousand years prior, from a supernova explosion which created the supernova remnant MSH 11-61A. This pulsar apparently does not have an accretion disk; there are 15 known Accreting Millisecond X-Ray Pulsars (AMXPs) and IGR J11014-6103 is not among them.[1] Reportedly the jet is only seen in x-rays and there is no radio signature,[2] possibly due to orientation and/or an absence of accretion material. The pulsar's speed is reported between 0.001 - 0.003c (not unusual for a runaway neutron star).[3][4][5][6] Some other neutron stars have been observed to have extremely high velocity jets.[7]

References

  1. ↑ http://arxiv.org/abs/1206.2727
  2. ↑ http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2014/02/19/3948039.htm
  3. ↑ http://www.messagetoeagle.com/pulsarspeedest001.php
  4. ↑
  5. ↑ http://arxiv.org/pdf/1511.01944.pdf
  6. ↑ http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2014/02/19/neutron_star_jet_an_exploded_star_creates_a_truly_bizzare_scene.html
  7. ↑ http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2015/08/neutron-star-jets-near-speed-of-light-rival-those-of-black-holes.html

External links


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