The modeling of the Vela pulsar pulses - from optical to hard gamma-ray energy

Abstract

The pulsed radiation from PSR B0833-45 (Vela) has a phased-averaged spectral energy distribution (SED) of an apparently simple structure across a wide energy range, from optical light to hard gamma-rays. However, the Vela pulses in narrow energy bands reveal astonishing complexity of the directional pattern of the radiation. These pulses are, therefore, a unique clue to the underlying radiative processes. We present the results of a 3D modeling of the Vela radiation properties within an outer-gap scenario. We show how the inverse Compton scattering of photons by primary and secondary particles in its magnetic and non-magnetic regimes reproduces qualitatively, and in some cases quantitatively, the observed energy-dependent pulses of Vela.