Particle Acceleration in Pulsar Wind Nebulae: PIC Modelling

Lorenzo Sironi , Benoît Cerutti (1)

1 IPAG - Institut de Planétologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble

We discuss the role of PIC simulations in unveiling the origin of the emitting particles in PWNe. After describing the basics of the PIC technique, we summarize its implications for the quiescent and the flaring emission of the Crab Nebula, as a prototype of PWNe. A consensus seems to be emerging that, in addition to the standard scenario of particle acceleration via the Fermi process at the termination shock of the pulsar wind, magnetic reconnection in the wind, at the termination shock and in the Nebula plays a major role in powering the multi-wavelength signatures of PWNe.

Mots clés: Physics; Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena

Domaines: Planète et Univers [physics]

Lorenzo Sironi, Benoît Cerutti. Particle Acceleration in Pulsar Wind Nebulae: PIC Modelling. Modelling Pulsar Wind Nebulae, Astrophysics and Space Science Library, 2017, à renseigner, Unknown Region. pp.247, ⟨10.1007/978-3-319-63031-1_11⟩. ⟨insu-03692543⟩