The cosmic ray electron volley of Crab Nebula
In his 1983 Ph.D. dissertation, Paul LaViolette presented the novel theory that most of the radiation coming from the Crab Nebula is not due to cosmic ray emission coming from the Crab pulsar, but rather is produced by a cosmic ray electron volley (a galactic superwave) that is currently propagating toward the galactic anticenter and impacting the remnant face on. He theorized that these superwave cosmic rays are currently being captured by the magnetized plasma forming the Crab remnant which causes them to emit synchrotron radiation, thus illuminating the nebula.
Recent observations of the occurrence of gamma ray flares in the Crab nebula help support LaViolette’s theory.
(For more information visit our Superwave Forum).
