Colloquium 14 May 2020: Samayra Straal (NYU Abu Dhabi) - Pulsar wind nebulae as multi-facetted Astronomy probes

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Pulsar wind nebulae (PWNe) are created by the interaction between the highly relativistic winds from pulsars and their surroundings. When young, the PWN resides in the remnant produced by the supernova explosion, and confines the entire energy input of the pulsar. These PWNe also prove to be excellent particle accelerators. Hence, the properties of these systems can be used to study supernova explosions, the formation of the neutron star, particle creation in the pulsar magnetosphere, and the particle acceleration up to extreme energies in its wind. Combining all these aspects, PWNe provide key answers in questions like: How are neutron stars formed? Do FRBs arise from young pulsars? Are supernova remnants the main contributors of cosmic rays? We take a multi-wavelength approach in studying PWNe by modelling their radiative (from radio to gamma-rays) and dynamical evolution. I will present the initial results of this study and discuss its implications to the above mentioned questions.