HESS Observations of Pulsar Wind Nebulae

Abstract

The high resolution capabilities of the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) introduced a new era in Gamma-Ray Astronomy, and opens a new window on pulsar wind nebula (PWN) research. A rotationally induced jet (associated with PSR B1509-58) is resolved for the first time in gamma-rays, allowing us to trace the particle transport directly, without having the complicating effect of spatially varying field distributions on the synchrotron emissivity. For PWN older or more extended than Crab (i.e. those with lower field strengths), HESS also reveals the properties of electrons contributing to the EUV/soft X-ray synchrotron bands, whereas EUV/soft X-rays suffer from severe interstellar absorption effects. Finally, HESS morphological studies of evovled PWN also allow us to directly measure the effects of assymetric reverse shock interactions due to SNR forward shock expansion into the inhomogeneous interstellar medium.