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Cao Z, Aharonian F, An Q, Bai LX, Bai YX, Bao YW, Bastieri D, Bi XJ, Bi YJ, Cai H, Cai JT, Cao Z, Chang J, Chang JF, Chen BM, Chen ES, Chen J, Chen L, Chen L, Chen L, Chen MJ, Chen ML, Chen QH, Chen SH, Chen SZ, Chen TL, Chen XL, Chen Y, Cheng N, Cheng YD, Cui SW, Cui XH, Cui YD, D'Ettorre Piazzoli B, Dai BZ, Dai HL, Dai ZG, Della Volpe D, Dong XJ, Duan KK, Fan JH, Fan YZ, Fan ZX, Fang J, Fang K, Feng CF, Feng L, Feng SH, Feng YL, Gao B, Gao CD, Gao LQ, Gao Q, Gao W, Ge MM, Geng LS, Gong GH, Gou QB, Gu MH, Guo FL, Guo JG, Guo XL, Guo YQ, Guo YY, Han YA, He HH, He HN, He JC, He SL, He XB, He Y, Heller M, Hor YK, Hou C, Hou X, Hu HB, Hu S, Hu SC, Hu XJ, Huang DH, Huang QL, Huang WH, Huang XT, Huang XY, Huang ZC, Ji F, Ji XL, Jia HY, Jiang K, Jiang ZJ, Jin C, Ke T, Kuleshov D, Levochkin K, Li BB, Li C, Li C, Li F, Li HB, Li HC, Li HY, Li J, Li J, Li K, Li WL, Li XR, Li X, Li X, Li Y, Li YZ, Li Z, Li Z, Liang EW, Liang YF, Lin SJ, Liu B, Liu C, Liu D, Liu H, Liu HD, Liu J, Liu JL, Liu JS, Liu JY, Liu MY, Liu RY, Liu SM, Liu W, Liu Y, Liu YN, Liu ZX, Long WJ, Lu R, Lv HK, Ma BQ, Ma LL, Ma XH, Mao JR, Masood A, Min Z, Mitthumsiri W, Montaruli T, Nan YC, Pang BY, Pattarakijwanich P, Pei ZY, Qi MY, Qi YQ, Qiao BQ, Qin JJ, Ruffolo D, Rulev V, Saiz A, Shao L, Shchegolev O, Sheng XD, Shi JY, Song HC, Stenkin YV, Stepanov V, Su Y, Sun QN, Sun XN, Sun ZB, Tam PHT, Tang ZB, Tian WW, Wang BD, Wang C, Wang H, Wang HG, Wang JC, Wang JS, Wang LP, Wang LY, Wang RN, Wang W, Wang W, Wang XG, Wang XJ, Wang XY, Wang Y, Wang YD, Wang YJ, Wang YP, Wang ZH, Wang ZX, Wang Z, Wang Z, Wei DM, Wei JJ, Wei YJ, Wen T, Wu CY, Wu HR, Wu S, Wu WX, Wu XF, Xi SQ, Xia J, Xia JJ, Xiang GM, Xiao DX, Xiao G, Xiao HB, Xin GG, Xin YL, Xing Y, Xu DL, Xu RX, Xue L, Yan DH, Yan JZ, Yang CW, Yang FF, Yang JY, Yang LL, Yang MJ, Yang RZ, Yang SB, Yao YH, Yao ZG, Ye YM, Yin LQ, Yin N, You XH, You ZY, Yu YH, Yuan Q, Zeng HD, Zeng TX, Zeng W, Zeng ZK, Zha M, Zhai XX, Zhang BB, Zhang HM, Zhang HY, Zhang JL, Zhang JW, Zhang LX, Zhang L, Zhang L, Zhang PF, Zhang PP, Zhang R, Zhang SR, Zhang SS, Zhang X, Zhang XP, Zhang YF, Zhang YL, Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Zhao B, Zhao J, Zhao L, Zhao LZ, Zhao SP, Zheng F, Zheng Y, Zhou B, Zhou H, Zhou JN, Zhou P, Zhou R, Zhou XX, Zhu CG, Zhu FR, Zhu H, Zhu KJ, Zuo X. Peta-electron volt gamma-ray emission from the Crab Nebula. Science 2021; 373:425-430. [PMID: 34261813 DOI: 10.1126/science.abg5137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The Crab Nebula is a bright source of gamma rays powered by the Crab Pulsar's rotational energy through the formation and termination of a relativistic electron-positron wind. We report the detection of gamma rays from this source with energies from 5 × 10-4 to 1.1 peta-electron volts with a spectrum showing gradual steepening over three energy decades. The ultrahigh-energy photons imply the presence of a peta-electron volt electron accelerator (a pevatron) in the nebula, with an acceleration rate exceeding 15% of the theoretical limit. We constrain the pevatron's size between 0.025 and 0.1 parsecs and the magnetic field to ≈110 microgauss. The production rate of peta-electron volt electrons, 2.5 × 1036 ergs per second, constitutes 0.5% of the pulsar spin-down luminosity, although we cannot exclude a contribution of peta-electron volt protons to the production of the highest-energy gamma rays.
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