What process lights up the interior structure of the Crab Nebula, a Supernova Remnant (SNR) from 1054?
Answer
Synchrotron radiation created by high-energy electrons interacting with a pulsar's magnetic field.
The Crab Nebula, an example of a Supernova Remnant (SNR) resulting from a 1054 explosion, is illuminated internally by a distinct mechanism. Its remnant core is a rapidly spinning object called a pulsar. This pulsar generates a powerful magnetic field. As high-energy electrons travel through this magnetic field, they emit a specific type of non-thermal radiation known as synchrotron radiation, which is responsible for lighting up the complex internal structure observed within the remnant.
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